Jeff Hoffman gave up his first runs of the season but still got the save as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Washington Nationals, 4-2, on Wednesday.
Tyler Heineman throws the runner out at second base to seal the win for the @BlueJays! pic.twitter.com/02yuO0vbcU
— MLB (@MLB) April 2, 2025
He had two previous perfecting outings for saves but ran into trouble in the ninth inning.
Hoffman struck out the first batter and forced a groundout to the second batter before James Woods singled and Nathaniel Lowe doubled him in. Josh Bell hit a soft grounder to Hoffman to reach first. Jacob Young replaced Bell as a runner and was caught trying to steal second base to end it.
Hoffman now has a 2.25 ERA after that outing, his third straight of the series.
Burleson walks in run, scores on homer
Alec Burleson was supposed to have Wednesday off and did until the St. Louis Cardinals needed his bat against the Los Angeles Angels.
3 HR
6 RBIWhat a day for Iván Herrera! pic.twitter.com/fjBxsKaFNt
— MLB (@MLB) April 2, 2025
They got his patience, too. He drew the second bases-loaded walk of the eighth inning that scored a run. His walk gave St. Louis a 7-5 lead.
He was then on second base when catcher Ivan Herrera hit his third homer of the game. Herrera is the first Cardinals’ catcher to do that.
Erik Ritchie gets win in opener
The Clearwater Threshers geared up for the start of their season with a 12-9 exhibition win over the Florida Coast League Phillies.
ECU alum Erik Ritchie earned the win with a shutout eighth inning. He struck out two of the three batters he faced.
The Threshers open the Class A season on Friday against the Dunedin Blue Jays and fellow ECU alum Trey Yesavage. He was assigned to Dunedin on Tuesday.
Photo credit: Jeff Hoffman (Toronto Blue Jays photo)
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