Second walk-off home-run for Trayce Thompson

Thu, Jun 9th 2016, 05:06 PM


Los Angeles Dodgers' Trayce Thompson celebrates after hitting a walk-off home run to end a baseball game against Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The Dodgers won 403 on Thompson's home run. (Photo: AP)

Mychal Thompson's boy has done it again... and it's not middle son Klay, starting two-guard for the Golden State Warriors, but Trayce, a regular starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers these days.

Trayce Thompson, the youngest son of the Bahamian basketball legend, blasted his second walk-off home run for the Dodgers this season, in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, breaking a 3-3 tie, and leading them past the Colorado Rockies, 4-3. They played the finale of a three-game set against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA last night, but the result was unavailable up to press time.

For young Thompson, it appears that the son of the soil has found a spot in the Dodgers' regular line-up, despite their loaded outfield. Thompson is hitting .271 with 10 home-runs and 22 RBIs this season, reaching double digits in home-runs and 20-plus RBIs for the first time in what looks to be a very promising career. He went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.

Batting fifth in the line-up, Thompson connected on an 0-1 pitch with two out in the bottom of the ninth, and sent it to deep left center to give the Dodgers the dramatic win. He now has the only two walk-off hits for the Dodgers this season, both of which were home-runs, becoming the first Dodger to accomplish that feat since Matt Kemp more than 10 years ago.

Thompson's first walk-off home-run of the season came against the defending National League (NL) Champions, New York Mets, on May 10. His two-out shot in the ninth off Carlos Estevez early Wednesday morning gave the Dodgers their 11th win in the past 16 games, and pulled them to within three games of the first-place San Francisco Giants in the NL West. They travel to AT&T Park to play the Giants in a three-game set this weekend. Going into last night's finale against the Rockies, the Dodgers stood at 32-28 in the standings, and the Giants were 35-25.

As for Thompson, the 25-year-old outfielder started the season as a pinch hitter for the Dodgers but has seen regular playing time since the opening week of the season. He has started six of the last seven for the Dodgers, and is batting .300 over that span. Thompson's hold on an everyday spot in the Dodgers outfield became more firm last Friday with the placement of Cuban Yasiel Puig on the disabled list.

Since getting his first taste of the big leagues as a member of the Chicago White Sox last season, Thompson has gone deep 14 times in 89 games. He was traded to the Dodgers in the offseason, and has paid immediate dividends. For the Dodgers this season, Thompson has 35 hits in 129 at-bats, and has played in 50 of the team's 60 games. He has scored 24 times, and also has four stolen bases.

Teenage pitching prospect Julio Urias got the start for the Dodgers on Tuesday night, making his home debut. The 19-year-old Mexican left-hander allowed three hits and one run, and struck out seven over four innings. The Dodgers utilized five relievers before Thompson went deep off Estevez in the bottom of the ninth inning to end the game in their favor.

"We're right there," Thompson was quoted as saying. "Guys are putting together good at-bats, and we gotta continue to step on the gas and keep it going."

Kenley Jansen (2-1) got the win after pitching a scoreless ninth for the Dodgers. Estevez (1-3) suffered the loss.
A total of 40,525 fans were in attendance, watching Thompson and the Dodgers come through with late heroics again.

Sheldon Longley, Guardian Sports Editor

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