Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman nightmare adds another chapter

Jeff Hoffman could've closed out the World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays.

But since the moment he failed to do that, it's been downhill for the right-handed relief pitcher.

The latest nightmare came Saturday for Hoffman, as the Blue Jays built a 5-1 lead against the Baltimore Orioles before bringing Hoffman into the game for the ninth inning.

Hoffman actually struck out the first hitter he faced.

But then he hit Coby Mayo, and there was trouble afoot.

Leody Taveras tripled to score Mayo.

Jackson Holliday singled to score Taveras.

Colton Cowser doubled, and Taylor Ward walked, to load the bases.

Hoffman then walked Gunnar Henderson to bring in another run and make it 5-4.

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The Blue Jays pulled Hoffman at that point, but Connor Seabold walked Adley Rutschman to tie the game, then allowed a Pete Alonso walk-off single.

Hoffman's final line was 0.1 innings with three hits, two walks, a hit batter and five earned runs against him.

His season ERA is now up to 6.31.

The Blue Jays had used Louis Varland in the eighth, and maybe were thinking about bringing him back out for the ninth, but they added a run in the top half to open up a four-run lead, and they probably hoped Hoffman could get it done from there.

He couldn't, though, as his struggles continued, and so the Blue Jays fell back below .500 to 29-30 with another brutal Hoffman day on the mound.

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