Mussels muscle walk-off against 'Tugas in finale

Allan Cerda and Austin Hendrick record multi-hit games, but Jesús Feliz's home run in the ninth the difference

CF Allan Cerda picked up a pair of hits and drove in two, but Fort Myers muscled a walk-off home run in the ninth, as the Mighty Mussels topped the Daytona Tortugas, 6-5, on Sunday afternoon at Hammond Stadium. (Noah Goldberg)

By Justin Rocke

July 25, 2021

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Daytona rallied to tie the game after trailing by three at two separate points of the ballgame, but could not complete the comeback. 1B Jesús Feliz hit the second pitch in the bottom of the ninth for a walk-off home run, as the Fort Myers Mighty

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Daytona rallied to tie the game after trailing by three at two separate points of the ballgame, but could not complete the comeback. 1B Jesús Feliz hit the second pitch in the bottom of the ninth for a walk-off home run, as the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels escaped with a series split, defeating the Daytona Tortugas, 6-5, on Sunday afternoon at Hammond Stadium.

Trailing 3-0 and 5-2, the Tortugas (34-38) battled to draw even with a two-out rally in the eighth. CF Allan Cerda (2-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI) ignited the attack with a double down the line in left. After an infield hit by SS Ivan Johnson (1-3, R, BB), DH Danny Lantigua (1-4, R, RBI, SO) served a single to center to score Cerda and pull Daytona within two, 5-3.

After a walk to C Justin Gomez (0-2, 2 BB, SO) loaded the bases, Fort Myers (39-33) made a call to the bullpen. LHP Denny Bentley (1.1 IP, H, BB, 2 SO) — who was 8-for-8 in save chances coming into Sunday — took over to try and escape the jam. However, on a 2-2 pitch, 2B Brandon Leyton (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI) sizzled a grounder that stayed to the right of the third-base bag. Two runs scored on the León, Nicaragua native's two-base hit, tying the game at five.

Daytona would re-load the bases on a walk to 1B Leo Seminati (0-4, BB, SO), but Bentley registered a swinging strikeout to quell the threat.

Still tied at five heading to the home half of the ninth, Feliz (3-5, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) put a capper on Fort Myers' win and his own outstanding day at the plate. Leading off the frame, the right-handed slugger drove a 1-0 offering onto the boardwalk in left-center for a game-ending solo home run. His second long ball with the Mussels gave them a 6-5 victory.

Fort Myers jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, as SS Keoni Cavaco (1-4, R, RBI, BB, 2 SO) and C Charles Mack (2-4, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB) reached on back-to-back two-out walks. Feliz dunked a looping double into shallow right field for a two-base knock to score a run and put the Mussels up 1-0. The next offering went to the backstop, allowing Mack to score, doubling the lead to 2-0.

After Mack clubbed a solo shot — his fifth of the year — to stretch Fort Myers' advantage to 3-0, Daytona chipped away with a pair in the sixth. RF Austin Hendrick (2-4, R, 2B, 2 SO) started the frame with a ringing double to dead center, while 3B Elly De La Cruz (0-5, R, 4 SO) followed by reaching on a throwing error.

LF Wendell Marrero (0-4, BB, 2 SO) walked to load the bases, bringing Cerda to the plate. On a 1-0 pitch, the Bronx, N.Y.-born outfielder ripped a drive to deep center. CF Will Holland made an outstanding diving grab head-first towards the fence to rob Cerda of extra bases. However, Hendrick and De La Cruz scored on the sacrifice fly to pull the Tortugas within one, 3-2.

The Mighty Mussels managed to get those two runs back, making it 5-2, in the bottom of the sixth on consecutive two-out run-scoring singles by 3B Yunior Severino (1-4, RBI, BB, 2 SO) and Cavaco.

Neither starter factored into the decision on Sunday. RHP José Franco (2.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) was lifted after 2.2 innings for Daytona, while LHP Zarion Sharpe (5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 SO) twirled 5.0 scoreless for Fort Myers.

Bentley earned his fourth win of the season, despite being saddled with his first blown save. RHP Manuel Cachutt (0.0 IP, H, R, ER) took his second defeat after yielding the game-closing homer.

Following the league-wide off day on Monday, Daytona will return to Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday, July 27, to open up a six-contest homestand against the St. Lucie Mets, Low-A affiliate of the New York Mets. It will be a Breast Cancer Awareness Night presented by Radiology Associates Imaging, as Daytona players and coaches will don special pink-tinted uniforms to mark the occasion. Silver Sluggers Night — the best club in baseball for fans 60-and-over — presented by Conviva Cares Solutions will also be a part of the festivities. Fans can get in on deals at the concession stand with $2.50 Michelob Ultra draft beers.

Neither team has announced a starting pitcher for the series opener. Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network will begin on the MiLB First Pitch app and www.daytonatortugas.com at 6:50 p.m. leading up to the 7:05 p.m. first pitch from Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Season tickets, multi-game plans, group packages, and single-game tickets are currently available and can be purchased online at www.daytonatortugas.com or by calling the Tortugas’ Ticket Office at (386) 257-3172.

ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS
The Daytona Tortugas are the Low-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Low-A Southeast. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach. Jackie Robinson Ballpark also plays host to Bethune-Cookman University, the Jackie Robinson Ballpark Museum, and many community events and initiatives of all sizes throughout the year.