Padre Closer Hoffman Can’t Find Plate

Trevor Hoffman, the San Diego Padres’ closer, looked bewildered as he left the mound after giving up consecutive walks to force in the winning run in the Angels’ 8-7 victory Tuesday.

Hoffman was brought in after Garret Anderson and Scott Spiezio singled against reliever Tom Davey. Hoffman went 3-and-1 to Troy Glaus and walked him. He went 3-and-1 to Shawn Wooten, then walked him, forcing in the winning run.

An unusual outing from such a consistent closer. Hoffman had struck out seven of 10 batters in his four previous appearances. Of course, he thought he struck out two more Tuesday.

“I thought some of those were strikes,” Hoffman said. “But I asked [catcher] Ben Davis, and he said everything was up.”

Asked if he had ever walked in the winning run before, Hoffman said: “Yes. But I have never walked back-to-back batters like that.”

The Angels weren’t even looking for walks.

“I wanted to be aggressive, but after he walked Troy, I had this little zone I was looking at,” Wooten said. “When the count was 2-and-0, that zone got smaller.”

An up-and-down season continued for starting pitcher Scott Schoeneweis.

Schoeneweis, who was coming off successive strong outings, seemed in control through five innings. He walked two batters in loading the bases in the sixth, then gave up a three-run double to Davis.

“I lost command of my pitches and had a mental lapse,” he said. “I couldn’t get the ground-ball out I needed.”

If shortstop Benji Gil is on the trading block, then Tuesday’s two-homer performance could only increase his value.

Teams have expressed an interest in Gil, who is batting .342 with eight home runs. He began the season as the regular shortstop. But rookie David Eckstein’s hitting and Gil’s not-so-slick fielding moved Gil to the bench, and possibly onto the market.

Gil, 28, has mixed feelings about a possible trade.

“It’s flattering to have my name and have interest from other clubs,” he said. “I’m very happy here. I grew up about 1 1/2 hours away, so I have family coming here all the time. But to have the opportunity to go somewhere and play every day would obviously be good for my career.”

ON DECK

Opponent--Tampa Bay Devil Rays, two games.

Site--Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Today--4:15 PDT.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Records--Angels 45-48, Devil Rays 30-64.

Record vs. Devil Rays--3-1.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

ISMAEL VALDES

(5-5, 4.28)

vs.

DEVIL RAYS’

JOE KENNEDY

(3-3, 4.63 ERA)

Update--These are the worst offensive teams in the American League. The Angels rank next to last in runs scored, just ahead of the Devil Rays.

Thursday, 9:15 a.m. PDT--Jarrod Washburn (7-4, 3.61) vs. Brian Rekar (1-11, 5.77).