Lares Leads One-Hit Shutout of Marauders 2-0

BRADENTON, Fla. (May 1, 2024) – Cesar Lares tossed six no-hit innings Wednesday, leading the Mighty Mussels to a 2-0 shutout of the Bradenton Marauders at LECOM Park.

Fort Myers (9-14) carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Bradenton (5-18) third baseman Javier Rivas floated a single into right center with two outs.

Lares (1-0) faced the minimum over six innings, allowing just two men to reach. After Garret Forrester reached on an error in the second, he was quickly erased on a double play. Esmerlyn Valdez was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning, but Lares then picked him off.

Lares needed just 69 pitches to complete six innings, a new career high. He averaged 91.4 mph on his fastball, which he used 51% of the time. He induced only four whiffs all night, fanning just two batters. He completed his last two innings on just 17 pitches.

Danny Moreno then pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief, fanning three before surrendering the lone Bradenton hit. Julio Bonilla notched his third save, retiring four consecutive batters to end the game.

The Mussels put pressure on Bradenton all night but stranded 11 runners. They got the scoring going in the top of the third. With runners at first and second and two outs, Brandon Winokur shot a single through the right side to give Fort Myers a 1-0 lead.

Still up by that margin in the sixth, Jose Rodriguez ripped a solo homer out to left field. The ball left the bat at 109.3 mph and at just a 24-degree launch angle. Rodriguez now leads the Mussels with three homers on the season.

Wednesday’s shutout was the Mussels’ third of the season and the fewest hits they’ve allowed in a game since they tossed a combined no-hitter on May 14, 2023.

Fort Myers will look to take the series lead at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. RHP Charlee Soto (0-1, 2.08) makes the start for the Mussels, opposite RHP Antwone Kelly (0-2, 9.00) of the Marauders. Coverage begins at 6:15 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.