Jeff Hoffman beat up in debut, Cubs defeat Rockies 9-2

The Cubs spoiled Jeff Hoffman’s major-league debut and defeated the Rockies 9-2 at Coors Field. Jeff Hoffman allowed seven runs in four-plus innings in his debut.

The first three innings went very well for Hoffman. After a 10-pitch scoreless first inning, he also shut out the Cubs the following two innings while notching his first major league strikeout (which came on a slider). His fastball had life, and he was able to throw his secondary pitches for strikes.

But in the fourth inning, the Cubs got to Hoffman, tagging him for four runs. Three singles and a double put the first three runs on the board, and with two outs and a runner on third, Miguel Montero singled to make it a four-run frame.

Hoffman seemed to have an easy assignment to begin the fifth inning: opposing pitcher Mike Montgomery. But Hoffman’s command was starting to fail him at this point. After falling behind 3-1, he had Montgomery in a full count when the lefty slapped a grounder to (not) first baseman Ryan Raburn that slipped under his glove for a two-base error. Hoffman proceeded to walk Dexter Fowler, and then Kris Bryant proceeded to annihilate a fastball for a long home run to dead center field. At that point, the Rockies were down 7-0, and Hoffman’s night was done.

The Rockies added a couple of runs, and the Cubs added two more including another in the ninth off a Ben Zobrist home run. This wrapped up a dispiriting 9-2 loss.

The Rockies face the Cubs tomorrow afternoon in the series rubber match. Jorge De La Rosa takes on Jason Hammel at 2:10 MT.