Hoffman earns first Double-A win

It took eight starts for two organizations, but Jeff Hoffman has his first Double-A win.

The Rockies' No. 4 prospect yielded an unearned run on one hit over six innings on Saturday as New Britain held on for a 2-1 victory over visiting Portland.

Hoffman (1-2), who began the year with Class A Advanced Dunedin in the Blue Jays organization, made two starts for Double-A New Hampshire before getting traded to Colorado in the deal headlined by Troy Tulowitzki and Jose Reyes. He struck out six and issued a pair of walks to lower his Eastern League ERA to 2.93.

"He had a good changeup and he was throwing the ball down in the zone," Rock Cats pitching coach Dave Burba said. "He was spotting his fastball down and away, which has been kind of an issue."

lone blemish came in the top of the fourth, when he allowed a leadoff single to Manuel Margot. The Red Sox's No. 3 prospect took second on a sacrifice and scored the Sea Dogs' lone run on first baseman Jordan Patterson's error.

Hoffman, the ninth overall pick in last year's Draft, struck out five straight Sea Dogs and retired the last seven batters he faced. Coming off Tommy John surgery in May 2014, the Rockies are limiting him to six innings. He threw 78 pitches before Kraig Sitton and Carlos Estevez finished up.

The Rock Cats had a 1-0 lead in the fourth when rehabbing former American League MVP Justin Morneau drilled a long solo homer.

"All of our hitters have been picking his brain," Burba said. "It's a welcome sight to see guys taking advantage of a big leaguer here. They recognize who he is and what he's done. He's been great with it. It seemed like every time I looked his way tonight, there was a different kid talking to him."

If Morneau represents the past and present, the Rockies hope Hoffman is the future.

"He's got a plus fastball, a good sinker, a plus curveball and changeup," Burba said. "He's starting to learn how to command his fastball a little better. Tonight was a great step forward as far as that goes. He's a pleasure to work with, so I don't see anything but good things happening for him."

There's still much for the 22-year-old Latham, New York, native to learn. After getting a batter to chase a high fastball in one at-bat, Hoffman threw him all curveballs his next time up. Burba said he would have liked to see him mix in another high heater to see if he'd chase again before returning to the curve.

"That's what a big league pitcher does -- he recognizes what the hitter is telling him and takes advantage of it. That's something he's got to get better at," the former Major Leaguer said.

Hoffman also has the work ethic required to succeed.

"Hoff is an ultimate competitor," said Dan Roszel, Hoffman's pitching coach at East Carolina for three years. "I knew when he got hurt that it would just fuel his fire and passion to come back even stronger than before. He was a coach's dream because he showed that professional work ethic and dedication to detail as a freshman in college."

Portland starter Justin Haley (5-15) gave up two runs -- one earned -- on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts over six innings but suffered his league-leading 15th loss.