HOUSTON (AP) Kenley Jansen had been almost automatic for the Los Angeles Dodgers – until the World Series.
Now after the big closer’s loss to the Houston Astros in Game 5, after a rare blown save earlier in the series, the Dodgers are going home in a hole.
But like any good closer, Jansen is trying to have a short memory.
Jansen blew only one save during the regular season, and just this weekend had been recognized as the National League’s top reliever for the second year in a row.
The Dodgers had already used six pitchers, and had just tied the game with three runs in the ninth inning late Sunday night, when Jansen came on for the fourth time in the World Series.
Jansen worked around a two-out double in the ninth, but Alex Bregman’s RBI single with two outs in the 10th inning in a game that took 5 hours, 17 minutes ended the game early Monday morning. Houston won 13-12 to take a 3-2 series lead.
”Just missed my spot, missed my location,” Jansen said, but added that he didn’t think fatigue was a factor.
But the closer and the Dodgers still have a chance for their first World Series title since 1988.