Jays closer Hoffman struggles in loss to Twins
TORONTO – The game-tying solo shot stung. The go-ahead homer was a body blow.
Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman bent over on the mound and rested his hands on his knees as Matt Wallner’s three-run blast cleared the wall for Minnesota’s second homer of the ninth inning.
Mickey Gasper had pulled the Twins even with his first career homer and Wallner’s 20th homer of the year was the difference as Minnesota came back for a 7-5 victory over Toronto on Tuesday night at Rogers Centre.
Hoffman (8-5) took the loss after his seventh blown save of the season.
“Some nights you don’t have it,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “Tonight was one of the nights.”
The six-foot-five, 235-pound right-hander can be electric when he’s on point. When he’s off, things can go sideways in a hurry.
His 28 saves are proof that Hoffman can thrive when the game is on the line. But his bloated 4.77 earned-run average is well above what’s needed from a high-leverage reliever.
Related Videos
“His numbers obviously I know aren’t where they need to be, but I think (he’s) the same guy that pretty much carried us for two straight months,” said Toronto starter Chris Bassitt. “And then yes, (he’s) had a couple of bad ones. But overall, I trust him more than anyone.”
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
With Toronto’s lead in the East Division standings down to four games, lockdown-style performances from the closer will be needed down the stretch as the Blue Jays try to improve their seeding in the American League.
Hoffman has converted just two of his last five save opportunities and has a 6.75 ERA in his last seven appearances.
Calls for a shakeup of the team’s high-leverage arms will only grow with his latest performance, but Schneider plans to stick with him.
“When he’s available and you want to save a game, I’m going to bring him in,” he said. “He’s shown that he can do it.”
The loss overshadowed a strong performance by Blue Jays slugger George Springer, who hit two home runs, scored four times and had four hits. He leads the team with 24 homers this season.
Nathan Lukes had three hits and Ernie Clement and Bo Bichette each chipped in with a pair. Bichette leads the major leagues in hits (167) and multi-hit games (48).
Toronto had a 4-0 lead after five innings. Bassitt kept Minnesota off the scoreboard until Luke Keaschall’s two-run homer in the sixth.
The right-hander allowed two earned runs and four hits over 5 2/3 innings. He had six strikeouts and three walks.
Twins reliever Michael Tonkin (2-0) recorded two outs in the eighth inning for the win and Justin Topa survived a nervy ninth for his fourth save.
Topa got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to fly out with a runner on to end the game as Toronto fell to 77-56 overall and an AL-best 43-22 at home.
The Blue Jays and Twins will square off in the rubber game of the three-game series on Wednesday night.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 26, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
TORONTO – An old bat was a difference-maker for the Toronto Blue Jays in a wild 9-8 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.
Ty France sparked an eighth-inning rally with a solo homer and Addison Barger emerged from a 2-for-30 slump with a two-run double to help the Blue Jays to their AL-best 40th comeback win of the year.
Barger said France “randomly decided” to use one of his old bats from the cage before his pinch-hit appearance.
“I haven’t seen the bat since last year and he had a homer with it,” Barger said. “And I was like, ‘Oh shoot, I’m going to use that.’ And it worked.”
Barger lined a slider from Michael Tonkin (2-1) off the top of the wall in right field to bring home Alejandro Kirk with the tying run and George Springer from first base with the go-ahead run.
Seranthony Dominguez (3-4) got two outs in the eighth inning for the win and closer Jeff Hoffman worked the ninth for his 29th save as Toronto (78-56) took the rubber game of the three-game series.
Related Videos
Toronto improved its record at Rogers Centre to 44-22, the best home mark in Major League Baseball at the end of the game.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
Barger became a regular in the lineup early in the season after providing consistent pop at the plate. Despite his struggles in recent weeks, he remains unfazed by late-game pressure.
With runners in scoring position in the seventh inning or later this season, Barger is hitting .389 with a 1.161 OPS (on-base plus slugging).
“Addy’s got talent,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “He can do that. We’ve seen him do that, we’ve seen him hit home runs.
“I think it’s just the natural course of the season for a young guy and I think he’s navigating it pretty well.”
On the mound, Schneider went right back to Hoffman a night after he gave up two homers and blew his seventh save of the season.
“It’s like a quarterback throwing an interception,” Schneider said. “You’ve got to have a short memory and you’ve got to move on to the next thing. And you know, Hoff, like everybody else on this team, they move on to the next thing.”
The game had eight solo homers — four from each team — and Toronto clawed back from three deficits before taking its first lead in the eighth.
Only the Los Angeles Dodgers (41) have had more comeback wins.
“These guys do not quit,” Schneider said. “They do not give a (crap) who they’re playing against. They don’t care what the situation is. I love it.”
Andres Gimenez and Davis Schneider, with a pair, also went deep for Toronto. Byron Buxton, with two, Luke Keaschall and Brooks Lee homered for the Twins (60-73).
Toronto starter Eric Lauer allowed six earned runs and 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings. He had four strikeouts.
Minnesota starter Simeon Woods Richardson gave up five earned runs and five hits over 3 2/3 frames. He walked a pair and fanned two.
Toronto maintained its four-game lead on Boston in the American League East Division standings. The Red Sox edged Baltimore 3-2.
The Blue Jays will continue their six-game homestand Friday night against the MLB-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Shane Bieber (1-0, 1.50 earned-run average) is tabbed to start for Toronto.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 27, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
TORONTO – Addison Barger hit a two-run double in Toronto’s three-run eighth inning as the Blue Jays came back for a 9-8 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.
Barger drove a ball into the right-centre field gap to score Alejandro Kirk with the tying run and George Springer with the go-ahead run.
Seranthony Dominguez (3-4) got two outs in the eighth inning for the win and closer Jeff Hoffman worked the ninth for his 29th save as Toronto took the rubber game of the three-game series.
Each team hit four home runs. All eight blasts were solo shots.
Related Videos
Davis Schneider, with a pair, Andres Gimenez and Ty France, who hit a pinch-hit homer to start the rally in the eighth, went deep for Toronto (78-56).
Get daily National news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
Byron Buxton, with two, Luke Keaschall and Brooks Lee went deep for the Twins (60-73).
Toronto starter Eric Lauer allowed six earned runs and 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings. He had four strikeouts.
Minnesota starter Simeon Woods Richardson gave up five earned runs and five hits over 3 2/3 frames. He walked a pair and fanned two.
Michael Tonkin (2-1) blew the save and took the loss.
Toronto maintained its four-game lead on Boston in the American League East Division standings. The Red Sox edged Baltimore 3-2.
KEY MOMENT
Blue Jays centre-fielder Daulton Varsho put a charge into the sellout crowd of 42,361 with his catch against the wall in the second inning. He made another brilliant catch in virtually the same spot in the third.
KEY STAT
Toronto owns the best home record in the AL at 44-22.
UP NEXT
The Blue Jays will continue their six-game homestand Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Shane Bieber (1-0, 1.50 earned-run average) has been tabbed to start for Toronto.
The Twins will return home for a seven-game homestand starting Friday against the San Diego Padres.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 27, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
TORONTO – Addison Barger hit a two-run double in Toronto’s three-run eighth inning as the Blue Jays came back for a 9-8 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.
Barger drove a ball into the right-centre field gap to score Alejandro Kirk with the tying run and George Springer with the go-ahead run.
Seranthony Dominguez (3-4) got two outs in the eighth inning for the win and closer Jeff Hoffman worked the ninth for his 29th save as Toronto took the rubber game of the three-game series.
Each team hit four home runs. All eight blasts were solo shots.
Related Videos
Davis Schneider, with a pair, Andres Gimenez and Ty France, who hit a pinch-hit homer to start the rally in the eighth, went deep for Toronto (78-56).
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
Byron Buxton, with two, Luke Keaschall and Brooks Lee went deep for the Twins (60-73).
Toronto starter Eric Lauer allowed six earned runs and 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings. He had four strikeouts.
Minnesota starter Simeon Woods Richardson gave up five earned runs and five hits over 3 2/3 frames. He walked a pair and fanned two.
Michael Tonkin (2-1) blew the save and took the loss.
Toronto maintained its four-game lead on Boston in the American League East Division standings. The Red Sox edged Baltimore 3-2.
KEY MOMENT
Blue Jays centre-fielder Daulton Varsho put a charge into the sellout crowd of 42,361 with his catch against the wall in the second inning. He made another brilliant catch in virtually the same spot in the third.
KEY STAT
Toronto owns the best home record in the AL at 44-22.
UP NEXT
The Blue Jays will continue their six-game homestand Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Shane Bieber (1-0, 1.50 earned-run average) has been tabbed to start for Toronto.
The Twins will return home for a seven-game homestand starting Friday against the San Diego Padres.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 27, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
-
Uncategorized3 months agoShop Proud, Eat Proud, Be Proud — Ottawa Canada Day Market This June 28th
-
2 months agoCanada’s world junior trial saw juries tossed, intense testimony. Here’s a recap
-
2 months agoMeasles circulating in northeastern B.C. community, health officials warn
-
2 months agoRing of Fire road to bring prosperity to First Nation, problems for caribou: report
-
3 months agoAnishinabek Nation chief says he briefed Ontario police on protests against Bill 5
-
2 months agoFormer major leaguer, Jays doctor Ron Taylor dies
-
2 months agoJagmeet Singh apologizes for attending Kendrick Lamar concert after Drake calls him out
-
2 months agoDreaming of a lakeside cottage but can’t afford it? Co-ownership could open that door