"It played out as if it had been planned. Scripted, even. With a one-run lead in the ninth inning, Trevor Hoffman was summoned from the bullpen to save the day.

Only this time, his presence on the pitcher's mound created anxiety as well as applause at Petco Park. This time, Trevor Time translated as the Padres trailing. This time, Hoffman's recent history had been so horrible that seasoned spectators were not sure whether to worry about his lethal change-up or fear for his fate.

This time, the drama peaked when Hoffman reached the pitcher's mound. He would set down the Padres in order in the ninth inning, preserving a 2-1 victory for Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo and recording the 595th save of his record-setting career.

Saturday night was one of those rare evenings at the ballpark when personal attachment competes with long-standing loyalties, when a favorite son tests the rooting interests of his former fans in trying to torment the home team."