Jeff Hoffman is kicking himself after the devastating end to the World Series.
Toronto Blue Jays The leadoff hitter gave up the tying home run to Los Angeles Dodgers No. 9 hitter Miguel Rojas with one out in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7, giving the home team a 4–3 lead.
The Dodgers won 5–4 in 11 innings when Will Smith scored on Shane Bieber.
“I cost everyone here a World Series ring… that seems like quite a (expletive),” Hoffman said.
“We need to do better in this place and prevent this from happening.”
Hoffman, who entered the game with two outs in the eighth, had not allowed a home run in his nine previous postseason appearances.
Rojas had hit just seven home runs in the regular season and zero in the postseason before the ninth inning.
Hoffman became one of the Blue Jays' most reliable bullpen players in the playoffs after a regular season in which he struggled at times to keep the ball in the park, giving up 15 home runs.
Unfortunately, this issue comes at the worst possible time for a guy who signed with the Blue Jays before this season. He has been an outstanding player for most of the playoffs, as evidenced by his finishing work in Games 6 and 7 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners.
“This sucks. It was supposed to end differently. Just one pitch and yes,” Hoffman said.
