June 06, 2007
Oh Those Hit Batsmen
The Padres picked up a 1-0 win last night despite being out-ht 5-2 by the Dodgers. Walks were aplenty in this game as seven were issued by both teams. But it was a hit by pitch that made the difference:
Pinch-hitter Russell Branyan was hit in the foot by a pitch from Rudy Seanez (2-1) with one out in the eighth, stole second and scored on Giles' hit to center.
That set up Trevor Hoffman's 499th save. What's amazing to me about Hoffman is that he's reached 500 saves in a relatively short time. He didn't reach the majors until he was 25. He didn't become a closer until he was 27. For all intents and purposes, he missed the 2003 season with injury. This is his 13th season as a closer, and in that time he's averaged close to 40 saves a season. Even though his strikeout rate dropped since the injury, it's still very good. He's looking at his sixth season in a row with an ERA under 3.00, and his 12th overall. An impressive career.
Posted by David Pinto at
08:32 AM
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...and Hoffman records #500.