LOS ANGELES — It looked like a picture-perfect return to Dodger Stadium for Kenley Jansen on Saturday. The Red Sox led by a run, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky over Chavez Ravine and Dodgers fans cheered as their former ninth-inning savior jogged in from the visitor’s bullpen despite the fact he was in the game to try to shut the door on their team.
Then, for a closer who was 19-for-20 in save chances entering the day, it all went to hell.
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Jansen, who recorded 350 saves as a member of the Dodgers from 2010 to 2021, saved a game as a visitor at Dodger Stadium back in 2022 while with the Braves. He wouldn’t do it a second time Saturday. Facing longtime teammate Kiké Hernández to lead off the ninth, Jansen got to a 2-2 count before leaving a cutter over the plate. Hernández, who the Sox traded back to the Dodgers almost exactly a year ago, launched it into the left field seats 415 feet away to tie the game.
For Jansen, it represented the first blown save since April 16 and the first homer he has given up all season.
“It’s just one pitch,” the closer said. “He got it and there’s nothing you can do about it … He got me today.”
Momentarily, it looked like Jansen’s blown save wouldn’t lead to a loss as Tyler O’Neill hit a two-run homer to give the Sox a 6-4 lead in the 10th. But Hernández hit an RBI single to tie things again off Greg Weissert in the bottom of the inning and scored the winning run as the ghost runner in a 7-6, 11-inning Dodgers win. After going 42-2 in games they led after seven innings in the first half, the Sox dropped their second straight in that category in L.A.
“We had the lead in the ninth and they hit a homer against one of the best closers in the big leagues,” said manager Alex Cora. “We passed the baton all the way to the ninth and had our anchor. It just didn’t happen.”
Jansen has not been shy about his affinity for Los Angeles. He said last week that he would, in a perfect world, retire in a Dodgers uniform and referred to Dodger Stadium as “home.” He was upset negotiations broke down with the club in the 2021-22 offseason when he signed with the Braves and has taken notice of constant rumors that the Red Sox and Dodgers might line up on a trade to send him back west. For the 36-year-old, this weekend’s series had been circled for a while.
After the game, though, he played it cool. His 381st career appearance at Dodger Stadium was just another appearance.
“It’s just another game, to be honest with you,” Jansen said. “A tough one. Didn’t get the win for our team. But we’ll be ready for tomorrow.”
Jansen said he was trying to be aggressive against Hernández, who entered the game hitting just .191 with 11 extra-base hits (and a .557 OPS) in 213 plate appearances this season.
“He knows me well. But still, in that situation I’m going to have my best pitch,” Jansen said. “You’ve just got to let it go. Tomorrow’s another day and we have to get that win tomorrow.
“Kiké put two good at-bats and that’s what beat us today.”
Unless the clubs match up in the World Series, Sunday’s series finale will mark the final chance for Jansen to record a save in Los Angeles this season. He’ll hope to finish off a game started by Kutter Crawford against ex-Red Sox lefty James Paxton.
“It was crazy back and forth,” Jansen said of the loss. “We’ve got to be better tomorrow, win that game and keep going.”
