{"id":356280,"date":"2026-07-29T14:48:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T14:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/356280\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T14:48:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T14:48:09","slug":"mussels-reach-100-home-runs-this-season-quartet-of-players-climb-record-book-in-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/356280\/","title":{"rendered":"Mussels reach 100 home runs this season, quartet of players climb record book in win"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Quentin Young\n<\/p>\n

2 \/ 3<\/p>\n

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Jayson Bass<\/p>\n

3 \/ 3<\/p>\n

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JP Smith II <\/p>\n

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FORT MYERS\u00a0\u2013 Four Mighty Mussels moved up in the franchise record book as Fort Myers defeated the Palm Beach Cardinals 9-3 Tuesday night at Hammond Stadium.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Home runs from\u00a0Quentin Young,\u00a0Jayson Bass\u00a0and\u00a0JP Smith II\u00a0gave the Fort Myers\u2019 (52-43, 15-15) offense 101 homers on the season, eclipsing 100 bombs for the third time in franchise history (since 1992). The franchise record of 103 home runs was set in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With five innings and seven strikeouts, Mussels\u2019 starter\u00a0Merit Jones\u00a0(5-1)\u00a0is now third in the Mussels\u2019 era (since 2020) in innings (89.2) and second in strikeouts with 97 in a single-season. The righty sits within striking distance of record holders\u00a0Pierson Ohl\u00a0(101 strikeouts in 2022) and\u00a0Eli Jones\u00a0(100 innings in 2026).\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really cool,\u201d Jones said postgame. \u201cI\u2019ve been able to stay healthy this whole season\u2026 it\u2019s truly a blessing.\u201d<\/p>\n

With his stellar performance tonight, Jones lowered his ERA in July to 0.73 across 24.2 innings. He has now completed five innings six different times this season while pacing the Florida State League in innings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jones attributed his success to \u201cpounding the zone and trusting my stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Young\u00a0opened the scoring with a two-run opposite field homer off Double-A rehabber Ixan Henderson (0-1) in the second inning. It was the 13th homer of the season for the Minnesota Twins\u2019 No. 13 prospect, moving him into a tie with\u00a0Rubel Cespedes\u00a0(2023) for second in modern franchise history. Next up is\u00a0Brandon Winokur,\u00a0who set the modern record with 14 home runs in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Cardinals (49-47, 16-14) plated an unearned run in the fourth to make it 2-1.<\/p>\n

Palm Beach went to its bullpen with one out in the fifth. Young connected on a triple to center, then\u00a0Irvin Nunez\u00a0followed with a first-pitch single to make it 3-1.\u00a0Merphy Hernandez\u00a0doubled down the right field line to advance Nunez to third.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ramiro Dominguez\u00a0then doubled to make it 5-1. Two batters later\u00a0Jayson Bass\u00a0capped the frame with a two-run homer to make it 7-1. Fort Myers hit for the cycle in a six batter span. Bass\u2019 blast was his 13th of the season, tying him with Young and Cespedes in the record book.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Brent Francisco\u00a0labored in the top of the seventh over two-thirds of an inning, throwing 35 pitches and allowing two runs.\u00a0Mike McKenna\u00a0relieved him and stranded two runners to keep the Mussels\u2019 lead at 7-3.<\/p>\n

In the eighth inning, Smith\u2019s 12th home run of the year moved him into a tie with\u00a0Kala\u2019i Rosario\u00a0(2022) for the third-most single-season home runs in the Mussels\u2019 era, while extending the margin to 9-3.<\/p>\n

McKenna recorded the final seven outs to secure Fort Myers\u2019 first home Tuesday win of 2026.<\/p>\n

The series continues today, July 29. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with coverage beginning at 6:40 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.\u00a0<\/p>\n


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