Hoffman says shoulder's OK; Park could pitch
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Trevor Hoffman can't understand what all the fuss is about.
Less than 24 hours after he was involved in the wrong end of an incredible rally at Dodger Stadium, the San Diego Padres' closer was surprised that his pitching shoulder had suddenly become such a topic of discussion.
Hoffman blew a shot at career save No. 476 when he allowed the final two of Los Angeles' four straight homers in the ninth inning that allowed the Dodgers to tie Monday night's game at 9. Los Angeles won it 11-10 when Nomar Garciaparra hit a two-run homer in the 10th off Rudy Seanez.
Afterward, Padres manager Bruce Bochy said he didn't send Hoffman out for the 10th because he had a tender right shoulder.
"I think it's normal achy stuff," Hoffman said Tuesday night before the Padres opened a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. "It's September. It's nothing I'd expect to have to face questions about."
Hoffman, who needs four saves to break Lee Smith's record of 478, said he was good to go Tuesday night, if needed.
Bochy didn't send Hoffman out to start the ninth Monday night because the Padres led 9-5, a non-save situation. Hoffman had been warming up when the Padres led 6-5 in the top of the ninth, but then they scored three more runs and Hoffman sat down. But Bochy did plan to use Hoffman if the Dodgers got two runners on in the bottom of the inning.
Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew opened the ninth with homers off Jon Adkins. Russell Martin and Marlon Anderson then went deep on the first two pitches by Hoffman, both fastballs.
"I'm always prepared to go into a ballgame," Hoffman said. "Ultimately, I hope the letdown doesn't resonate for a few games. All around, it was a good series."
The Padres and Dodgers split the four-game series, leaving Los Angeles with a one-half game lead in the NL West. The Padres took a 1 1/2-game lead in the wild-card race into Tuesday night's schedule.
Bochy was aware that Hoffman was downplaying his shoulder ache.
"Yeah, I mean, he's pitchable," Bochy said Tuesday. "But at the same time we want to keep him that way. We don't want to lose him over overuse him. That's why we used him when we did, if we had to. I wasn't going to bring him in with a four-run lead and wear him down."
Also Tuesday, Bochy said he thinks Chan Ho Park will be ready to be activated from the disabled list by the time the Padres start their last trip Monday. Park had surgery on Aug. 23 to stop intestinal bleeding.
Park will pitch out of the bullpen. Reliever Doug Brocail pulled a hamstring Friday night in Los Angeles running to cover first base and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
"I feel like it today," Park said. "Time-wise, that's the only opportunity I can get now, because coming back to start takes time. If I pitch one or two innings, I'll use all my energy.
"I was hoping it would come true," Park said. "After the surgery I felt kind of like it was a tough time to talk about my future. I thought I might have to give up the season. But so far, so good. I'm confident and feel I can come back."
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