Instant Reaction: Jeff Hoffman and the Blue Jays bullpen blow late-game lead against the Minnesota Twins

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation
By Tyson Shushkewich | Last updated Aug 26, 2025 10:30 PM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays‘ bullpen was tasked with keeping the lead over the Minnesota Twins, but the AL Central rival played spoiler, clawing back to take the win by a score of 7-5.

Chris Bassitt got the nod for Toronto and got off to a rocky start before settling down in the first inning.

A leadoff walk to Trevor Larnach and a single to Brooks Lee put runners on the corners with zero outs, but Bassitt battled back to punch out the next three batters, including Canadian Edouard Julien. The right-hander settled in after, not allowing another base runner until the top of the fourth inning. A leadoff walk and a sac bunt put Luke Keaschall on second base with two outs, but Bassitt escaped the inning by getting outfielder James Outman to fly out.

A clean fifth inning saw Bassitt come out for the sixth, and with a 4-0 lead to work with. That would change quickly, as a single to Lee and a middle-middle sinker to Keaschall saw the Jays lead cut to two, with the Twins second baseman sending the offering 401 feet over the left centre field wall. The Jays starter would tack on two more strikeouts before walking Outman, which saw his day come to a close in favour of Louis Varland. The fireball-throwing former Twin would strike out Royce Lewis to end the frame.

Bassitt’s final line would be 5 2/3 innings with four hits, three walks, and two earned runs with six strikeouts, seeing his ERA land at 4.14 and with the potential win on the horizon.

The Twins would tack on another run in the top of the seventh inning after Varland put two runners on with zero outs. Brendon Little was brought in to clean up the mess, and a single from Ryan Jeffers put Minnesota in a bases-loaded situation with still no outs. However, a spectacular catch from Addison Barger in right field to the following batter and a subsequent throw to second put two outs on the board at the expense of the lone run, and Little escaped the jam with just one run to cross home plate.

LAY OUT, ADDISON! pic.twitter.com/lMDY3NOIXP

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 27, 2025

The Jays got some help at the top of the eighth again when Matt Wallner was called out at third base, and a combination of Little and Seranthony Dominguez saw no Twins cross home plate late in the game.

Closer Jeff Hoffman was called upon to finish the game holding a one-run lead, and the first batter he faced made him pay.

Mickey Gaspar was all over a fastball that caught too much of the zone, sending his first Major League home run over the right field wall to tie the ballgame. He would then allow a single to former Blue Jays top prospect Austin Martin, who quickly stole second base, but it wouldn’t matter at the end of the day.

Hoffman would hit a batter to put another runner on before Matt Wallner launched a three-run shot over the right field wall to give the Twins the three-run lead. The right-hander would walk his next batter, bringing out some boo-birds at the Rogers Centre before manager John Schneider made the call to the bullpen for Yariel Rodriguez. The Cuban right-hander was able to stop the bleeding and put the Blue Jays back on the sticks in the bottom half of the frame.

Home run #20 for Matt Wallner! He is just 4th Minnesota born player to hit 20 in a season! He joins, Hrbek, Winfield, and Mauer. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/YQCwdFwN5V

— Dustin Morse (@morsecode) August 27, 2025

For the Blue Jays’ bats, it was George Springer’s big day at the plate that made the game as close as it was after Toronto’s bullpen imploded. The veteran slugger went 4 for 5 at the plate, including two home runs that tacked on two runs for the Jays and counted for a late run in the bottom of the ninth as well.

Springer tattoo’d a Bailey Ober four-seam fastball 433 feet over the left centre field wall in the bottom of the second inning, leaving the bat at 112.7 MPH and making it 3-0. He would add his second solo home run in the bottom of the fifth, sending another Ober fastball over the left centre field wall, but a little further at 445 feet.

George Springer's second homer of the game comes on the 10th pitch of the at-bat! pic.twitter.com/5an8or9Dqy

— MLB (@MLB) August 27, 2025

Down 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth, thanks to Springer’s late run, Daulton Varsho was at second with two outs, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stepped to the plate, looking to tie the game. The Jays slugger would fight in the at-bat against Twins closer Justin Topa, but the pitcher would win the duel by getting Guerrero to fly out to right field to finish the game.

Guerrero, Springer, and Alejandro Kirk contributed in the RBI column, and the Jays finished the evening with 14 total hits on the day. Springer, Nathan Lukes, Bo Bichette, and Ernie Clement all had multi-hit days, with Lukes and Varsho contributing with a double apiece.

Toronto will turn to Eric Lauer tomorrow to try and seal the series win.

This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission.

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