Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman strikes out 4 in 1 inning but blows save

Hoffman's wild outing ends in Blue Jays walk-off win over Athletics

Mar. 28, 2026 at 2:55am

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Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeff Hoffman struck out four batters in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics, but also blew the save by giving up a game-tying home run. Despite the blown save, the Blue Jays were able to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth for the win, with Hoffman getting credited as the winning pitcher.

Why it matters

Hoffman's performance highlights the unpredictable nature of baseball, where even dominant pitching can sometimes lead to unexpected outcomes. The game-winning comeback also showcases the resilience of the Blue Jays team and their ability to overcome adversity.

The details

Hoffman struck out the first three batters he faced in the ninth inning, but a home run by A's catcher Shea Langeliers tied the game at 2-2. Hoffman then struck out two more batters, but a wild pitch allowed one of them to reach base. Despite the blown save, the Blue Jays were able to win the game in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off single.

  • On March 28, 2026, Hoffman struck out four batters in the ninth inning against the Athletics.
  • The game-tying home run by Langeliers came in the top of the ninth inning.
  • The Blue Jays walked off with the win in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The players

Jeff Hoffman

A pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays who struck out four batters in one inning but also blew the save.

Shea Langeliers

The Oakland Athletics catcher who hit the game-tying home run off Hoffman in the ninth inning.

Kazuma Okamoto

The Blue Jays player who singled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to start the game-winning rally.

Ernie Clement

The Blue Jays player who doubled to advance Okamoto and set up the walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.

Andres Gimenez

The Blue Jays player who hit the walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game.

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What they’re saying

“First pitcher to blow a save with a 4-strikeout inning since Tim Wakefield (Red Sox) on August 10, 1999”

— Sportsnet Stats

What’s next

Hoffman will look to bounce back in his next outing, as the Blue Jays aim to build on this dramatic win to start the season.

The takeaway

Hoffman's wild performance showcases the unpredictable nature of baseball, where even dominant pitching can sometimes lead to unexpected outcomes. However, the Blue Jays' ability to rally for the win demonstrates the team's resilience and ability to overcome adversity.