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51s' Hoffpauir hits for the cycle

Completes feat with sixth-inning single, scores five runs
April 25, 2010
Jarrett Hoffpauir got the difficult stuff out of the way early.

Needing a single to become the eighth player in Las Vegas history to hit for the cycle, Hoffpauir lined a shot to left field leading off the sixth inning Sunday in the 51s' 14-11 victory over the Sacramento River Cats.

"After I hit the triple, that was the third hit, I got to third base and Rohny, our manager [Dan Rohn], said, 'Go ahead and finish it up with a single,'" Hoffpauir said. "That's when I thought about it. Luckily, I got it done early."

The 26-year-old second baseman smacked his second homer of the season with one out in the bottom of the first, then led off the third with a double and scored on a base hit by Brett Wallace. He tripled home a run and scored again in the fourth.

"It's in the back of your mind," Hoffpauir admitted. "I'd already had three hits and was just thinking about getting on base, to be honest. It was a close game going and we have some big-time hitters behind me. Whether it was a double, single or triple, I didn't care."

With only the single standing between him and Pacific Coast League history, did Hoffpauir think about bunting for a hit?

"I'm actually feeling pretty good at the plate right now. I thought I'd take my chances that way," he said. "They have a pretty good third baseman and I had two at-bats to do it, at least. I figured my best chance was to take a swing."

He figured right, taking the first pitch from reliever Fernando Hernandez into left field to become the first member of the 51s to hit for the cycle since Cody Ross on Sept. 5, 2005. The former Texas League All-Star eventually scored on Jeremy Reed's base hit, then walked and came home again in the seventh to tie the team record with five runs scored.

"To be honest, I didn't realize it was five," Hoffpauir said. "That's a first for me, too."

Pinch-hitter Brian Dopirak put an exclamation point on Hoffpauir's day when he launched a walk-off grand slam in the ninth.

"The main goal of the day is to win the ballgame. I was sitting there thinking how nice it would be if he hit a walk-off," Hoffpauir said. "And sure enough, he did."

Like Dopirak two years ago, Hoffpauir joined the Blue Jays as a Minor League free agent, signing last December. Through 16 games with Las Vegas, he's hitting .333 with two homers, nine RBIs and 10 runs scored.

"I'm enjoying it here," he said. "I like the guys, I like the organization. It's a better opportunity for me. I got a lot of playing time in Spring Training and hopefully, I can play well enough to get another shot [at the Majors] here pretty soon."

Daren Smith is an editor for MLB.com.