photo by The Associated Press

Vidalia native Jarrett Hoffpauir hits a two-RBI single off Cincinnati Reds reliever Daniel Ray Herrara for the go-ahead runs in the ninth inning of the St. Louis Cardinals’ 7-4 win. It was Hoffpauir’s first career Major League hit in his first official at-bat.

Vidalia native gets winning hit in MLB debut

By Jeff Edwards (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Saturday, July 4, 2009

CINCINNATI — It didn’t take long for Jarrett Hoffpauir to make a big impact in the Major Leagues.

The Vidalia native got the game-winning hit for the St. Louis Cardinals in the top of the ninth inning of a 7-4 Cardinals win over the Cincinnati Reds.

The game was tied 4-4 when Hoffpauir came to bat with two outs and the bases loaded.

Hoffpauir lined a single into left field that scored two runs and gave the Cardinals a lead they would not relinquish.

Albert Pujols followed Hoffpauir’s hit with a double that scored another run and the Cardinals held on in the bottom of the ninth for the win.

Hoffpauir came on to bat in the eighth inning as a pinch hitter with St. Louis down 3-0 and drew a walk to load the bases.

Pujols followed with a grand slam to give the Cardinals the lead.

“I was just trying to get on base,” Hoffpauir said of his at-bat in the eighth. “We had the best hitter in baseball coming up. You’re nervous in the on-deck circle, but you tell yourself to settle down and that you’ve done this before — just not at this level.”

The Reds tied the score in the bottom of the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly by Ramon Hernandez, which set up Hoffpauir’s heroics in the top of the ninth.

Jarrett’s father, Johnny Lee Hoffpauir, was at the game along with approximately 15 family members and friends to cheer Jarrett on.

“It’s exciting as hell,” Johnny Lee Hoffpauir said. “I’m in Cincinnati going nuts. It’s a proud moment for Vidalia, for Jarrett and for all the friends and family that are up here.”

Johnny Lee Hoffpauir said he had a feeling that Jarrett was going to get a hit when he strode to the plate.

“We’ve seen this before from him,” Johnny Lee said. “When he came to bat in the ninth, me and (Jarrett’s brother) Josh looked at each other and said ‘He’s fixing to get a hit.’ They threw him a changeup and he did it. We knew he could do it. It’s what he’s been doing all his life.”

Hoffpauir was called up to St. Louis on Wednesday, but did not play in either of his first two games with the Cardinals.

St. Louis plays the Reds today and Sunday before heading to Milwaukee to play the Brewers in a three-game series that begins Tuesday.