PITTSBURGH – Trevor Hoffman does not throw fastballs over the plate on 0-2 counts.
Well, he did last night and the Padres closer and the National League All-Stars paid the price.
Michael Young hit a two-run triple to right-center on an 0-2 Hoffman fastball clocked at 84 mph to give the American League a 3-2 victory in the 77th All-Star Game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
BILL KOSTROUN / Associated Press
Reprieved by a ground-rule double, Trevor Hoffman prepares to pitch to Michael Young.
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“That wasn't much fun,” Hoffman said of a ninth inning that got away from him after he retired the first two hitters – Jermaine Dye and Miguel Tejada – on ground balls back to the mound while protecting a 2-1 lead.
Hoffman's problems began when the next hitter, Paul Konerko, hit what appeared to be a routine grounder to third. But Florida third baseman Miguel Cabrera was playing almost on the line in a “no doubles” defense and the ball bounced into left.
The next hitter, longtime Hoffman nemesis Troy Glaus, one-hopped a drive over the left-field wall on a one-strike change-up to put runners at second and third with two out.
That brought up Young, who led the American League in hitting last year and lined a single to right off Hoffman last month – the only previous time they had met – in an interleague game in Texas.
Hoffman started him with a fastball. Young fouled it off.
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American pastime
The American League is unbeaten in 10 consecutive All-Star games.
1997
Score: 3-1
1998
Score: 13-8
1999
Score: 4-1
2000
Score: 6-3
2001
Score: 4-1
2002
Score: 7-7 tie
2003
Score: 7-6
2004
Score: 9-4
2005
Score: 7-5
2006
Score: 3-2
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Hoffman came back with a change-up. Young fouled it off.
Usually on 0-2 counts, Hoffman is off the plate with fastballs or low change-ups.
This time, however, Hoffman said Atlanta catcher Brian McCann believed he spotted Young moving forward in the batter's box to protect against the change.
So the pitcher and catcher agreed on a rare fastball in the 0-2 situation.
“But I might have overthought there,” said Hoffman.
“Clearly, my thinking was doing me no good,” Young said of being down 0-2 to Hoffman. “So I'm just going to try to see the ball and make some contact.”
As it turned out, Young saw a lot of the ball. Not only was it a fastball, it was a fastball that Hoffman said caught the plate.
“When I get two strikes, I can't catch that much of the plate,” said Hoffman, who had converted 24 of 25 save opportunities during the first half of the season to leave him 19 short of becoming the game's all-time saves leader.
Hoffman said blowing a save in the All-Star Game hurt just as bad – if not worse – as blowing one during the regular season.
His forte has always been putting the rare bad outings behind him quickly.
“I don't think you're ever going to forget these things on this kind of a stage,” said Hoffman.
When someone said it might be seen as an exhibition, Hoffman bristled.
“That was not an exhibition,” he said. “It meant a lot to everyone in our dugout. We wanted it.
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Blown away
Trevor Hoffman's statistics in his five All-Star appearances:
1998
IP H ER W/L
1 1 1 -
1999
IP H ER W/L
1/3 0 0 -
2000
IP H ER W/L
1 3 3 -
2002
IP H ER W/L
1 1 0 -
2006
IP H ER W/L
1 3 2 L
Note: Hoffman's overall All-Star ERA is 12.46.
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“There was something at stake tonight for the National League and the Padres (home-field advantage in the World Series). We (the Padres) think we could go deep into the playoffs. We're playing as a league for the right to host the seventh game in the World Series.
“We're professionals. When I came back to the dugout, it was quiet. We haven't liked losing all these All-Star Games. I do feel I let some people down.
“That said, I'm not going to beat myself up over this.”
Hoffman was as upset with the Konerko at-bat as he was with Young's.
“It seemed pretty quick getting those first two outs,” he said. “I should have closed it out right there. Konerko was important because Glaus has always had pretty good success against me.”
Until Young's hit, it appeared the NL were going to win by playing its game.
After an early exchange of solo homers – the Angels' Vladimir Guerrero for the AL off Brad Penny of the Dodgers and the Mets' David Wright for the NL – the National League generated a run in the third even though Alfonso Soriano was thrown out at the plate on Carlos Beltran's one-out single to center.
Beltran took second on the throw home by center fielder Vernon Wells, stole third and scored on Roy Halladay's wild pitch.
The NL made the 2-1 lead stand as six pitchers allowed only three hits in a series of one-inning masterpieces before turning the ball over to Hoffman for the final three outs.
“Most unusual,” said NL manager Phil Garner of Hoffman's collapse. “It's unfortunate. He's a great closer. If we had the same situation tomorrow night, we'd do the same thing.
“Trevor Hoffman has been fantastic. We have no regrets there; there is nothing we would have done differently.”
Perhaps Hoffman would disagree.
“I might change something,” he said . . . change being the operative word.
Bill Center: (619) 293-1851; bill.center@uniontrib.com
