BOSTON — Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen struck out Rays No. 2 hitter Josh Lowe on three pitches to begin the ninth inning. But he then walked the next hitter, Randy Arozarena, on four pitches.
“To me, it’s unacceptable. … I’ve got to be better in that situation,” Jansen said.
The Red Sox battled back from a four-run deficit to tie it 5-5 Thursday but Jansen couldn’t keep it tied in the ninth. He allowed two runs and Boston lost 7-5 to Tampa Bay here at Fenway. The Rays took the four-game series, 3-1.
“We had the right guy on the mound. It happens,” manager Alex Cora said. “The walk put us in a bad spot.”
Jansen allowed three straight batters to reach. After Arozarena walked, Jonathan Aranda singled. Isaac Paredes followed with an RBI single and Richie Palacios hit an RBI sac fly to center field.
Jansen’s 2-0 pitch to Arozarena was close, clipping the right edge of the strike zone.
“I thought I got a strike there on 2-0 but still, I’ve got to stay focused there and pitch my way back,” Jansen said. “That’s the one thing that hurt me tonight — is that walk.”
Jansen has a 3.45 ERA (15 ⅔ innings, six earned runs) in 16 outings this season. All six runs have come in his 8 ⅔ innings at Fenway Park. He has allowed just one hit in 7 scoreless innings on the road.
“I’m just frustrated I walked the hitter,” Jansen said. “I think at this point in my career, my life, no disrespect to any hitters but I just have to come in and do my job also knowing that one day you’re going to lose, one day you’re going to win. But walking guys, for me, is not in my nature. And I don’t like how it’s going right now, especially (after the) three-pitch strikeout there and then the next hitter I walk him. So to me, that pissed me off the most of this whole outing. Like I said, I’ve gotta be better tomorrow.”
Jansen has pitched in five of Boston’s past past seven games.
“I’m feeling great. I’ve just gotta get my command better,” he said.
