TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Tarpons (9-16) hosted the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (14-11) for the first game of their three-game set at “The Tank” on Friday, falling short of the mark in a 9-2 loss.
Despite standout performances from 1B Josue Gonzalez and LF Marshall Toole, the Tarpons couldn’t overcome Fort Myers’s steady offense throughout the game.
The Mighty Mussels struck first in the third against Tarpons starter LHP Tanner Bauman. Maddux Houghton singled, and Peyton Carr walked, setting up Yohander Martinez’s sacrifice bunt. Yasser Mercedes grounded out to score Houghton, and Jose Salas’s ground-rule double plated Carr, giving Fort Myers a 2-0 lead. They added a run in the fourth on a SAC Fly by Houghton, making it 3-0…