Mussels edge Mets 6-5 in 10 innings in final game of 1st half

St. Lucie finishes first half 22-44

June 20, 2024

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (June 20, 2024) – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels defeated the St. Lucie Mets 6-5 in 10 innings in the final game of the Florida State League first half on Thursday night at Clover Park. The Mussels drew four walks against Mets reliever Ryan Ammons in

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (June 20, 2024) – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels defeated the St. Lucie Mets 6-5 in 10 innings in the final game of the Florida State League first half on Thursday night at Clover Park.

The Mussels drew four walks against Mets reliever Ryan Ammons in the top of the 10^th inning to score two runs. Maddux Houghton took the go-ahead walk on a 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded. Later in the inning with two outs, Ryan McCarthy took a close 3-2 pitch for ball four to force in the second run.

The Mets plated the free runner Kevin Villavicencio in the bottom of the 10^th on a sac fly to make it 6-5. Mussels pitcher Jack Noble struck out Jeffry Rosa to end the game with Boston Baro on second base as the tying run.

Mets starter Jack Wenninger and Mussels starter Tanner Hall both gave up four runs in 4.0 innings. Both bullpens pitched scoreless ball over the final 5.0 innings of regulation. The Mussels did not get a hit after the fifth inning.

Mets centerfielder A.J. Ewing gave the Mets a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the second inning.

The Mussels scored three runs on two-out hits by Poncho Ruiz and Rixon Wingrove in the top of the third to go up 3-2.

Ronald Hernandez belted a two-run single in the bottom of the third to put the Mets back on top 4-3.

The Mussels got another two-out RBI single from Ryan McCarthy in the fourth inning to tie the game 4-4.

Alan Perdomo and Jeremy Peguero each tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief. Ammons pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts before running into trouble in the 10^th.

Samuel Perez pitched the seventh, eighth and ninth innings without giving up a run for Fort Myers. He stranded the go-ahead run on second base in the eighth and ninth.

Baez went 2 for 4 with a double and a RBI. Hernandez was 2 for 5 with a double.

The Mets (22-44) and Mighty Mussels (31-34) play the fourth game of their series at Clover Park on Friday. It will be the first game of the second half. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. Kids can run the bases after the game.