Noble Turns in Quality Start, Mussels Drop See-Saw 4-3 Affair

DUNEDIN, Fla. (August 5, 2023) – Jack Noble spun a quality start and Jay Harry delivered a clutch hit late but the Mighty Mussels dropped a 4-3 decision to the Dunedin Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin Saturday.

Noble matched his career high with six innings pitched, allowing three runs on seven hits while fanning five. He finished his night strong, striking out Glenn Santiago with two men on base in the sixth.

Dunedin took (46-55, 15-20) the lead in the first on a long solo home run to center from Abiezel Ramirez.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the third, Maddux Houghton walked with two outs before Ricardo Olivar singled to center. Luke Keaschall then walked to load the bases before Tucker Toman committed a fielding error which tied the game at 1-1. The next batter was Rubel Cespedes, who coaxed a bases loaded walk to give Fort Myers a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the third, the Blue Jays then put runners on second and third with two outs. Toman came to the plate and lifted a ground-rule double into the left fielder corner to put Dunedin back in front 3-2.

Both teams’ pitchers traded zeroes until the top of the eighth. After a Dylan Neuse walk and Kyle Schmidt single, Harry pulled an RBI single into right to tie the game 3-3.

With the score the same in the bottom of the eighth, Develson Aria (2-6) walked the first two batters of the inning. Zach Veen then entered and induced a double play. With two outs and the go-ahead run at third, Roque Salinas squibbed a grounder to first that Veen and Schmidt couldn’t connect on. Ruled a single, the Blue Jays took a 4-3 lead.

Grayson Thurman worked a perfect ninth to notch his fifth save.

The Mussels can still win the series at 12 p.m. on Sunday. RHP Miguelangel Boadas (0-2, 7.56) will make the start for Fort Myers, opposed by RHP Rafael Ohashi (2-5, 5.33) of Dunedin. Coverage begins at 11:45 a.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.