Dodgers closed out by Hoffman

Realizing the significance of the moment, San Diego Padres fans stood at Petco Park on Wednesday night before Trevor Hoffman had even taken his first step onto the field.

Baseball’s all-time saves leader was on the verge of another milestone, and the chance to record his 500th save against the Dodgers made the occasion all the more special.

Nomar Garciaparra greeted the Padres closer with a double off the wall in left-center field, but Hoffman set down the next three batters to close out a 5-2 victory for his 58th save against the Dodgers, his most against any opponent.

Catcher Josh Bard embraced Hoffman as other teammates converged in the infield before carrying Hoffman toward the dugout. A brightly lit 500 was raised on a platform beyond the center-field fence in tribute to the right-hander.

“We have one more goal left and that’s to put a ring on our fingers,” Hoffman said, a not-so-subtle reference to the Padres’ goal of winning their first World Series title.

An unpopular acquisition as a rookie in 1993 after the Padres unloaded slugger Gary Sheffield in a fire sale, Hoffman has become arguably the most revered reliever of all time. And it seemed appropriate that he applied the finishing touches Wednesday on a night starter Greg Maddux (5-3) had baffled the Dodgers for most of his 6 1/3 innings.

“They started out with one Hall of Famer and ended it up with another,” Dodgers Manager Grady Little said.

An appearance by Hoffman seemed doubtful after Geoff Blum drove in four of the Padres’ five early runs against starter Randy Wolf (7-4). After winning the first two games in the series, the National League West co-leaders have extended their lead over the Dodgers to 1 1/2 games and given Little reason to contemplate a shake-up of a lineup that has produced two runs in two games.

“I keep having confidence that they can” break through, Little said, “but at the same time we can’t continue things that aren’t working for us. We may have to do some juggling.”

Wolf gave up eight hits and five runs in five innings, and it could have been much worse. He was in trouble in every inning except one and escaped jams in the first and fifth innings.

“It was a really bad night,” said Wolf, who walked three and struck out six. “It was obvious that I was behind a lot of guys and when I had to make a pitch it got too much of the plate.”

Hoffman, who has spent all but the first 28 games of his 15-year career with the Padres, picked up his 18th save after retiring Jeff Kent and Luis Gonzalez on groundouts and striking out Russell Martin.

He tipped his cap to the crowd and then put on a commemorative “500” hat. Asked where the ball from the milestone save was headed, Hoffman said, “About 2,500 miles east to Cooperstown.”

“I’m privileged to be part of a select group,” said Hoffman, who last season surpassed Lee Smith to become the all-time saves leader.

Said Little: “He’s the definition of a closer. He’s there for them every day and he’s very consistent.”

ben.bolch@latimes.com

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Dodger slayer

San Diego’s Trevor Hoffman became the first major league pitcher to record 500 saves during Wednesday’s 5-2 victory over the Dodgers. His top career targets:

*--* Opponent G ERA Sv Opponent G ERA Sv Dodgers 87 2.74 58 Chicago (NL) 54 2.79 31 Colorado 75 3.39 47 Houston 47 2.30 28 San Francisco 81 2.16 46 Pittsburgh 50 1.95 28 Arizona 53 2.53 35 Washington 46 1.85 28

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Source: Major League Baseball