Merphy Hernandez added to his and the Mussels’ stolen base totals in the loss Tuesday at Clearwater.

CLEARWATER – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels fell 7-3 against the Clearwater Threshers Tuesday night at BayCare Ballpark.

Trailing 5-0 in the second inning, Merphy Hernandez singled for the first Fort Myers’ (67-56, 30-28) hit. He then swiped second, marking the 18th consecutive game with a steal for the Mussels, a new all-time franchise record (tracked since 2005), surpassing the 17-game streak from earlier this season. It is also the longest active streak among full-season MiLB affiliates. 

Following a 1:07 weather delay to begin the contest, Fort Myers’ starter Jui-Chieh Lin (0-2) loaded the bases in the bottom of the first but escaped the jam. He ran back into trouble in the second, and exited without recording an out in that frame. Clearwater (70-54, 30-28) would end up scoring five runs in the second inning. The first two were charged to Lin and the next three went against Callan Fang.

In the top of the third, with Hernandez at third, Isaiah Lane crushed a pitch off the wall in left center. After Will Gasparino collided with the wall, the ball took a large ricochet back into play. Lane flew around the bases for an inside-the-park home run. It was the second inside-the-parker for the Mussels this season (JP Smith, 6/3 at Lakeland) and the second homer of Lane’s career. 

Fang worked 1.1 innings and threw 21 of his 29 pitches for strikes before giving way to Eric Hammond with a runner aboard in the bottom of the third. Hammond induced a first-pitch double play to retire the side. 

Hammond allowed a leadoff triple in the fourth, and Clearwater extended their lead 6-2 on a groundout. Remarkably, Hammond recorded five outs on his first eight pitches thrown. 

The Threshed tacked on another run in the fifth, moving the margin to 7-2. 

In the sixth, Quentin Young drew a two-out walk. A balk from new arm James Tallon (4-2) moved him to second. Bryce Fowler then singled to right to make it 7-3. 

Hammond finished his night with six strikeouts, one off a season-high, across 3.2 innings. Aidan Russell took over in the seventh and worked a scoreless frame to begin his professional career. Russell retired the side in order in the eighth. 

Neither team recorded a hit in their final three offensive frames. 

The series continues today, Sept. 2. Cristian Hernandez (3.86) starts for the Mussels, opposite Zuher Yousuf (5.79) who takes the mound for the Threshers. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. with coverage beginning at 6:20 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.