Klein’s Complete Game Seals Doubleheader Sweep, Extends Win Streak to Seven

FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 1, 2023) – Jay Harry notched four hits in Game 1, and John Klein tossed a complete game in Game 2 Friday as the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels swept the Clearwater Threshers in their doubleheader at BayCare Ballpark.

Klein’s performance marked the first complete game for Fort Myers since Andro Cutura in 2018. It was also his third consecutive outing pitching six innings or more, leading Fort Myers to a 3-1 win. He has allowed just one earned run on five hits over his previous 19 innings of work, striking out 21.

Harry’s four hits matched a career high, and he launched his first professional home run in the process. The blast traveled 395 feet, the longest of the day by any Mussels’ (64-59, 31-27) hitter. The Penn State product has recorded a .347/.442/.472 line in his first 20 games at the Low-A level.

In the top of the first in Game 1, Harry doubled on a liner to left to open the game. The next hitter was Walker Jenkins, who poked a liner to right that scored Harry to give the Mussels a 1-0 lead. After a single from Ricardo Olivar placed runners at first and second, Danny De Andrade rolled a single to left that extended the lead to 2-0. The next hitter was Rubel Cespedes, who lined a single to left that pushed the lead to three runs. After a walk loaded the bases, Dillon Tatum drew a walk to force in Fort Myers’ fourth run of the inning. Two hitters later, Harry drew another walk to put the Mussels up 5-0.

In the bottom of the first, Keaton Anthony was hit by a pitch with one out. Two hitters later, Chad Castillo lifted a double to deep left center that put Clearwater (75-47, 31-26) on the board and make the score 5-1.

In the bottom of the second, Bryson Ware walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. The next hitter was Jordan Dissin, who rolled a soft grounder to third for an RBI infield single that made it 5-2.

Still leading by three in the top of the third, Kamron Willman singled to center and stole second. With one out in the frame, Harry seared a single to center that scored Willman to extend the lead to 6-2.

After Fort Myers added on another run in the top of the fourth, they fought for more in the top of the fifth when Harry blasted a solo homer 395 feet to right to make it 8-2. The next hitter was Jenkins, who cracked a homer to right for his first Single-A dinger to give the Mussels a 9-2 advantage.

After the Threshers tacked on two more in the bottom of the fifth, the Mussels kept the line moving in the sixth when Alec Sayre walked and stole second. With one out in the inning, Willman socked an RBI triple to right to extend the lead to 10-4. Harry followed with a single to left to cap scoring to make it 11-4.

With Friday’s two wins, Fort Myers matched their longest winning streak of the season at seven games. Moreover, they have won 10 of their last 11, and six straight on the road. Clearwater has now dropped seven straight.

The Mussels will return the diamond tomorrow when they start Jose Olivares (2-4, 6.37) against Estibenzon Jimenez (3-7, 3.83) of the Threshers. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. with coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.