Hoffman takes advantage of surprise start

DENVER — Jeff Hoffman wouldn’t accept you’re in the bullpen for an answer. Hoffman responded to an unexpected starting chance with five innings and seven strikeouts in the Rockies’ 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Brewers on Saturday night.

The right-handed Hoffman had struggled through his first five Major League starts after his promotion from Triple-A Albuquerque. So manager Walt Weiss informed him he would finish the year in long relief.

But Hoffman believed he’d receive another chance. He thought it would come when the Rockies shut down Jorge De La Rosa nearly two weeks ago. Instead, he had two appearances in long relief with solid results.

“As soon as they took me out of the rotation, I told them that I wanted De La Rosa’s next start,” Hoffman said. “It’s just my competitive nature. Walt actually told me no the first time.

“Yesterday they surprised me. But when they called me in, I knew something was going on. Walt told me, ‘You’re going to get that start you wanted.'”

On Saturday, Hoffman demonstrated the talent that led the …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com