Clutch Walks Win First Half Finale for Mussels 6-5
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (June 20, 2024) – Bases loaded walks from Maddux Houghton and Ryan McCarthy capped the first half on a high note for Fort Myers, as the Mussels defeated the St. Lucie Mets 6-5 in 10 innings at Clover Park Thursday. The win caps the Mussels’ first
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (June 20, 2024) – Bases loaded walks from Maddux Houghton and Ryan McCarthy capped the first half on a high note for Fort Myers, as the Mussels defeated the St. Lucie Mets 6-5 in 10 innings at Clover Park Thursday.
The win caps the Mussels’ first half campaign, which finishes with a 31-34 record. They will start a new, 66-game season tomorrow.
Fort Myers (31-34) plated both 10th inning runs without a hit, drawing four walks against St. Lucie (22-44) reliever Ryan Ammons.
The Mets jumped in front early against Mussels’ starter Tanner Hall. In a scoreless game in the bottom of the second, Estarling Mercado singled before AJ Ewing cranked a two-run homer out to right to make it 2-0 St. Lucie.
Trailing by that margin in the top of the third, Yohander Martinez started the inning with an infield hit. Two batters later, Cole Elvis walked. With two outs, Poncho Ruiz pulled a single through the left side to make it 2-1. The next batter was Rixon Wingrove, who pulled a single through the right side to score two and give Fort Myers a 3-2 lead.
St. Lucie battled right back in the bottom of the third, getting a leadoff walk from Kevin Villavicencio and a single from Boston Baro. After Jesus Baez loaded the bases with a single, Ronald Hernandez stroke a two-run knock to center to put the Mets back on top 4-3. Hall then retired two consecutive batters to keep the Mussels within one.
Trailing 4-3 in the top of the fourth, Martinez walked and advanced to second on a passed ball. McCarthy then smoked a single to center to score Martinez and tie the game 4-4.
From there, both teams’ bullpens put up five consecutive zeroes. Samuel Perez led the way for Fort Myers, tossing three innings of one-hit ball. Julio Bonilla tossed a scoreless fifth and Jack Noble (3-2) threw a scoreless ninth.
The second half of the season starts at 6:10 p.m. on Friday in Port St. Lucie. LHP Cesar Lares (2-2, 3.30) will pitch for Fort Myers, opposite RHP Saul Garcia (1-4, 6.95) of the Mets. Coverage will be available on the Mets Baseball Network.