Dodgers' Farmer homers, delivers walk-off in AFL opener

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Dodgers prospect Kyle Farmer got the Glendale Desert Dogs off to a fast start in the Arizona Fall League as he led the squad to a 8-7 win over the Mesa Solar Sox with a walk-off on Tuesday at Camelback Ranch.

Farmer, Los Angeles' No. 24 prospect according to MLBPipeline, flashed some power with a two-run homer in the third, and then won the game with a two-run walk-off single in the ninth.

"I knew he had a changeup," Farmer said of his last at-bat. "I knew he was going to come inside with the fastball and [after that] I knew I had to stay back on that changeup and luckily I was able to come through and help the team win."

The walk-off hit capped a big day for the catcher as he finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs.

After hitting just three home runs in 120 games during the 2015 campaign, Farmer's third-inning blast was a bit of a surprise.

"My home runs are mistakes," Farmer said. "I like to hit doubles, but I'll take a homer."

While Farmer isn't known for his power, it was his knowledge of Cubs prospect Pierce Johnson that led to the blast.

"That was a slider," Farmer said. "I knew he was going to come back to that pitch. He threw me a slider in my first at-bat and he came back to it. I got lucky I guess."

With the walk-off Farmer had the most critical hit of the day, but he wasn't the only player to have a productive play at the plate.

Astros prospect J.D. Davis and Dodgers prospect Brandon Dixon also hit homers.

"It's almost like an All-Star team," Farmer said. "[We've got] a good pitching staff, guys that can hit, it's a lot of fun."

In the other dugout, it was Athletics prospect Chad Pinder who provided the offensive fireworks.

Pinder, the A's No. 7 prospect, went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs.

The two-home run day was just the latest accomplishment in what has been a terrific year for Pinder.

The middle-infield prospect hit .317 with 15 homers and 86 RBIs in 117 games with the Midland Rockhounds and was named the Texas League Player of the Year in 2015.