The Tampa Yankees rallied from an early five-run deficit on Tuesday to defeat Class A Advanced Dunedin, 8-6, in 10 innings in Game 1 of the Florida State League semifinals. Fueling Tampa's comeback were prospects Estevan Florial and Hoy Jun Park, as they each collected key hits in the sixth inning or later while combining to score three runs.
Florial, the Yankees' No. 4 prospect and No. 86 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100, reached base three times in the contest, going 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored.
He hit a one-out triple and scored Tampa's second run of the game in the top of the sixth inning, beginning a stretch that would see the FSL North champions score in four of their final five frames. Florial tallied his second run in the 10th, with the 19-year-old outfielder scoring on Tim Lynch's go-ahead home run after drawing a one-out walk.
As for Park, the Yankees' No. 20 prospect flashed his power by hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning, the second of two solo shots hit by Tampa in the frame. The 21-year-old middle infielder delivered once more in the 10th, driving home an important insurance run with a one-out, bases-loaded single to finish the game 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
Tampa and Dunedin will square off in Game 2 of the series at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday in Tampa. If Dunedin wins, the teams will play a decisive Game 3 as part of a doubleheader.
The series' winner will be declared co-champion of the 2017 FSL after it was announced Tuesday that the Championship Series was canceled with Hurricane Irma expected to hit Florida this weekend.
The rest of the best performances from top prospects Tuesday
• On the losing side of the aforementioned FSL playoff bout, No. 5 overall prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays' No. 1) scored a run while going 2-for-5 from the three hole for Dunedin. It marked the 40th multihit performance this season for the 18-year-old third baseman, who slashed .323/.425/.485 with 43 extra-base hits and more walks (76) than strikeouts (62) in 119 regular-season contests across two levels. Shortstop and leadoff hitter Bo Bichette (No. 29 overall, Blue Jays' No. 2) also notched a hit for Dunedin, going 1-for-4 with a walk and one run scored. He, too, had a monster 2017 season, hitting .362/.423/.565 with 59 extra-base hits and 22 steals.
• Brewers No. 17 prospect KJ Harrison connected on a two-run home run in a 2-for-4 performance, though it wasn't enough to keep Rookie-level Helena from falling to Missoula, 6-4. It was the 10th home run of the season for the 2017 third-rounder, while the multihit effort gives him a .316 average through 46 games in his pro debut.
• Cardinals No. 16 prospect Jake Woodford opened the Florida State League postseason by pitching Class A Advanced Palm Beach to a 3-2 win over Fort Myers. A 20-year-old righty, Woodford gave up one run on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts in six innings. He recorded 11 of his 18 outs via ground balls, but threw just 50 of his 91 pitches for strikes. Spending his entire season in the FSL, Woodford posted a 3.10 ERA in 119 innings while making 21 starts (23 appearances).
• Giants No. 15 prospect Jacob Gonzalez put his team on the board early with an RBI single in the first inning, the first of a team-high three hits and two RBIs recorded by the 2017 second-round Draft pick in Game 1 of the Arizona League Championship Series. The 19-year-old third baseman enjoyed a strong pro debut in the AZL, producing a .339/.418/.458 line with 17 extra-base hits, including 15 doubles in 46 games.
• Nationals No. 5 prospect Seth Romero posted a career-high 10 strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings for Class A Short Season Auburn in a no-decision against State College. The 21-year-old lefty, a first-round Draft pick in June, struggled overall, as he yielded five earned runs on four hits and three walks while throwing 58 of his 86 pitches for strikes. Prior to his outing, Romero had allowed just four hits with 11 strikeouts over nine innings while making consecutive scoreless starts.
• Rockies No. 29 prospect Chad Spanberger blasted his 18th home run and later added a double to finish 2-for-4 with two RBIs for Rookie-level Grand Junction. A sixth-round Draft pick in June, the 21-year-old first baseman now ranks second in the Pioneer League home run race, trailing only teammate Casey Golden (20 HR). Overall, he's slashing .302/.376/.631 with 50 RBIs through 47 games in his pro debut.
• Back with Class A Advanced Fort Myers for the Florida State League playoffs, Twins No. 15 prospect Lewis Thorpe tossed five strong frames, allowing one earned run on six hits, in a no-decision against Palm Beach. The 21-year-old left-hander issued two walks and struck out five, with 56 of his 91 offerings going for strikes in the outing. Left-hander Tyler Jay (No. 8) threw the ball well for the Miracle, logging 2 1/3 scoreless frames with three strikeouts out of the bullpen, while outfielder Brent Rooker (No. 14) finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs, driving in both runs in the 3-2 loss.