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Hoffman sharp at Elsinore

By: RYAN FINLEY - Staff Writer | Saturday, August 23, 2003 11:33 PM PDT ∞

LAKE ELSINORE ---- Ring the bells: Trevor Hoffman is back.

The Padres' closer retired three of the four batters he faced in a one-inning rehab assignment with the Single-A Lake Elsinore Storm Saturday night, and said he plans on rejoining the Padres as soon as Sept. 1.

"I'm back," said Hoffman, who entered to AC/DC's "Hells Bells" and a standing ovation in the Storm's 5-2 loss to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes at The Diamond.

"I've been getting away with 84, 85 (mph) for a few years now, and that's where I'm at."

On the field, Hoffman appeared healthy in his first appearance since having two shoulder surgeries during the offseason. Hoffman threw 13 of 14 pitches for strikes, and appeared in command of both his fastball and devastating changeup.

After Casey Kotchman led off the seventh inning with a single to left field, Hoffman got Mike Eylward to pop out to second baseman Josh Barfield on an 0-2 fastball for the first out.

Hoffman then struck out David Gates on three pitches before getting Ryan Budde to fly out to right field to end the inning.

In the clubhouse, Hoffman stayed true to his reputation as one of the hardest-working pitchers in the game.

Hoffman arrived at The Diamond more than seven hours before gametime, stretched and worked out during the game, and stayed through the end of the ninth inning.

Those who know him, including Storm manager Jeff Gardner, wouldn't expect anything less.

"He's one of the hardest working guys out there," said Gardner, Hoffman's teammate with the Padres in 1993. "Trevor has always worked hard, and that's part of the reason why he's been so good for so long."

Hoffman will make another pair of minor-league rehab appearances and said he hopes to be back with the Padres when rosters expand on Sept. 1.

Saturday night, however, Hoffman was content as a member of the Storm.

"It was nice to toe the rubber," he said. "You can't duplicate that game feel."