SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Jordan Yamamoto capped a strong 2018 campaign with a scoreless start in the Arizona Fall League Championship game, which Peoria won 3-2 in 10 innings Saturday.
• Gameday
Yamamoto, who went 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA through six starts (26 innings) during the AFL's regular season, spun four scoreless frames and yielded just two hits, but was ultimately stuck with a no-decision as Peoria clinched the title on Braxton Davidson's (Braves) walk-off homer.
:: Complete coveraege of the 2018 AFL championship game ::
"Yamamoto is lights-out," Padres No. 13 prospect Buddy Reed said. "He's deceptive and he's got a fastball, slider, curveball and he mixes up well. He's got really good RPM's, spin-rate guy."
However, Yamamoto wasn't as crisp as those numbers would suggest.
Yamamoto also issued five walks and worked his way out of several jams, stranding a total of eight runners on base. He threw 43 of his 77 pitches for strikes and used the strikeout to work his way out of jams as three of his six punchouts ended innings.
"My thing is just getting them out," the Marlins' No. 17 prospect said. "I'm here to get guys out and that's my job and that's what I was brought here to do. Even though I walked them, I still dug deep and just got them out. At the same time my teammates helped me out big time. They made my outing a lot better because of those plays."
One of those Rafters' teammates that helped out Yamamoto was fellow Marlins' prospect Monte Harrison. The Marlins No. 2 prospect, finished just 1-for-4, but drove in the first run of the game with a two-strike, two-out single up the middle in the second inning.
The strong game from the duo of Marlins' prospects came at an opportune time as the pair were debuting the organization's brand-new uniforms.
"It's an honor to wear the new jerseys, to be the first guys to throw it on for the game, to be able to just rep the Marlins," Yamamoto said.
The strong AFL start concludes what was a breakout campaign for Yamamoto in his first season with the Marlins' organization. The 22-year-old right-hander missed time with injuries and totaled just 68 2/3 innings, but when he pitched, he was lights-out.
Yamamoto went 6-1 with a 1.83 ERA over 13 starts and reached Double-A.
"First year with Marlins. It was OK. Lots of ups and downs," Yamamoto said. "A lot of emotional roller coasters, physical roller coaster, but at the end of the day I'm happy with my year that produced and just hopefully there's a lot more to come."