Outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez, the No. 10 ranked Twins prospect (Baseball America), slides home safely to complete an inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning of the Might Mussels' 6-5 extra innings win over Jupiter in the home-opener Tuesday. WILLIAM PARMETER / MIGHTY MUSSELS

Outside of the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels’ locker room Tuesday night, there were sounds of celebration ringing through the hallways of Hammond Stadium.

After being the only team to sweep its opening series in the Florida State League, the Minnesota Twins’ Low-A affiliate returned home and continued its winning ways, delivering a come-from-behind, walk-off win in the 10th inning over Jupiter. The final score was 6-5.

The Twins’ No. 26 ranked prospect by Baseball America, outfielder Kala’i Rosario, lined an RBI single to right field to complete a hard-fought win and start the 2022 season at home on the right foot.

“I just wanted to have a good at bat there,” said 19-year-old Rosario after the game. “Knowing I just needed to get the guy in — didn’t need to get too big. I didn’t see (Hammerhead pitcher Tyler Eckberg) yet, so I really wanted to see all of his pitches and just work an at-bat, and just let him come to me and really just get a barrel out there, and that’s what I did.”

Rosario, a Waiakeia, Hawaii, native selected in the 5th round of the 2020 draft, has been one of the top performers in the Fort Myers lineup though the first four games of the year. Rosario, who led the FCL Twins in hits, runs, doubles, triples, total bases and RBI in 2021, is hitting .308 with an .819 OPS and four RBI and two runs scored early on.

The Mighty Mussels' Marco Raya. File photo by WILLIAM PARMETER / MIGHTY MUSSELS

Another Twins’ prospect (yes, this team boasts a fair amount) made his professional baseball debut Tuesday as starting pitcher Marco Raya took to the rubber. Minnesota’s No. 26 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, tossed 4 1/3 innings, surrendering seven hits, three runs (two earned) and one walk, while striking out four. The 2020 fourth-round pick who missed the ’21 season due to injury, featured a fastball consistently between 95 and 96 mph, as well as a sweeping slider in the low 80s.

“I felt great,” Raya said of taking the mound for the first time in a pro setting. “I was just filling up the zone, getting some balls in play for my team, and just trying my best to keep us in the game to get the win.”

Raya surrendered a run in the third and two in the fifth, but had his most impressive showing in the fourth when he sat down three Jupiter hitters in order, two by way of the K.

“His composure impressed me,” said Mighty Mussels skipper Brian Meyer. “This is his first professional start. He was drafted just 18 months ago. He got hit around a little bit tonight, but he never really lost his composure. I think in the fourth inning, his stuff was electric.”

One of the most entertaining plays in all of baseball occurred in the home half of the fourth with the Mighty Mussels trailing by one. Outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez, the No. 10 ranked Twins prospect according to Baseball America, blasted a shot to deep center that was nearly caught by Jupiter centerfielder Osiris Johnson. As the ball spilled away from Johnson, who had collided with the outfield wall after his leaping catch attempt, Rodriguez sped around the bases and was waved in by Meyer to complete the inside-the-park home run.

“That’s my first-ever inside-the-parker coaching third base,” Meyer said. “(Rodriguez) was kind of looking at me coming around third like, ‘Should I go?’ And I was like, ‘Yes, let’s go!'”

Unusual happenings continued in Fort Myers’ favor in the fourth, as a Kyle Schmidt towering infield pop-up with the bases loaded and two outs fell between all of the Hammerhead infielders, resulting in a 3-1 lead.

Jupiter tied things up shortly thereafter via a Zach Zubia solo homer and Cameron Barstad RBI double in the top half of the fifth.

Fort Myers pulled ahead in the sixth as Kyler Fedko came around to score after a leadoff single, wild pitch, pass ball and RBI knock from Ernie Yake.

Jupiter again answered quickly with the long-ball, as Jose Salas’ solo shot in the seventh saw the score even 4-4.

The Hammond Stadium crowd was treated to free baseball on opening night with extra innings needed to settle this one. Starting the 10th inning with a runner on second base, Hammerhead Cristhian Rodriguez hit a routine flyball to Emmanuel Rodriguez, who gathered the catch and dropped the ball in his transfer to throw. The second base umpire didn’t see it that way, and called Rodriguez safe. Javier Sanoja then brought home the Hammerheads’ fifth run with a sac fly. Mighty Mussels lefty Samuel Perez, who struck out five over three innings of relief, was able to escape the inning without any additional damage.

In the bottom half of the 10th, things got cooking quickly for Fort Myers. With Rodriguez on second to start the inning, Daniel Ozoria dropped a bunt down the third base line. With the first baseman also charging the bunt, it was up to the second baseman to cover first, and he could not get to the throw from third, resulting in the ball sailing up the line, scoring Rodriguez and putting Ozoria at third. Facing a full count, Rosario delivered with the winning knock and was mobbed by his teammates out on the field. That celebration continued into the locker room post game.

“It’s amazing,” Rosario said of the clubhouse atmosphere. “We’ve got a lot of young guys and a lot of vets in the clubhouse. We’re electric. It’s fun. We all play with heart, we have fun out there, and we just go out there and compete. It’s a fun group of guys.”

The Mussels are at home taking on Jupiter until April 17. Game time tonight is 7.

Hammond Stadium is at 14100 6 Mile Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers. For tickets and more information, visit mightymussels.com.