BOSTON — Kenley Jansen wasn’t messing around Saturday. The Red Sox closer wanted to nail down a win over the Yankees.
“The big man called in the middle of the eighth,” manager Alex Cora said. “He made the call. I didn’t make the call. And he’s like, ‘I’m in.’’”
Jansen had bullpen coach Kevin Walker call the dugout to tell Cora that he was available for more than three outs. Jansen recorded a four-out save to help lead Boston 8-4 over the Yankees here at Fenway Park.
Jansen said he had Walker make the call after reliever Greg Weissert walked Anthony Rizzo with one out.
“Playing against the Yankees, I told our bullpen coach, Walk, just whenever you see Weiss in trouble, call down,” Jansen said. “And he called down and I started warming up. Good communication between us and AC. Give me that ball. I want to just come out there and stop that inning right away so it doesn’t (give) the momentum to them.”
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While Jansen was warming, Weissert also walked Gleyber Torres and gave up a single to Austin Wells. DJ LeMahieu grounded into a force-out that scored Rizzo to cut the Yankees’ deficit to 6-4.
Cora then brought in Jansen with the bases loaded and two outs.
“I don’t want to lose that game,” Jansen said about his decision to have Walker call Cora. “The guys grind their butts off today and when you see all your players hit all the cylinders and play great baseball, you want to be a part to stop the momentum from the other side so you can keep that win.”
Jansen retired Anthony Volpe on a fly-out to right field for the final out of the eighth. The Red Sox added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, then Jansen pitched a perfect ninth. He got Juan Soto and Aaron Judge to fly out and Alex Verdugo to line out.
Jansen pitched two innings in a tie game in Chicago against the White Sox on June 9. But this marked his first save of more than three outs since July 1 of last year vs. the Blue Jays.
Saturday also marked just the fourth time since the beginning of 2022 that the 36-year-old Jansen has recorded more than three outs in an appearance.
“He’s in a great spot physically, mentally,” Cora said. “I know people criticized him early in the season. But you guys see him every day here and you see the work he puts (in). And the way he has talked about this situation. He’s into it. He wants to help us win. He cares about his craft. Obviously he’s shooting for a lot of stuff in his career. The more saves he gets, the closer he gets to Cooperstown. But right now, he’s in the moment and we appreciate that. I respect that guy. He’s been amazing for me throughout the year — trying to help me out mentoring guys and trying to clean up a few things that rookies will do. And he’s been amazing.”
