Fans sent home angry
Jansen gives up the tying runs, blowing the save and sparking jeers from the faithful.
The Dodgers were still leading when the first boos came in the top of the ninth, pointed toward a fan who tried to rush the field down the left-field line. The next handful of heckles was showered on home plate umpire Adrian Johnson, who didn’t call a borderline third strike.
But the loudest, most visceral, most acrimonious jeers at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night were directed at one man — the same abrasive treatment he’s received a lot of late, as his career-worst season continues to find new lows.
Kenley Jansen blew his eighth save, setting a new dubious career high after allowing the Tampa Bay Rays to score twice in the ninth and erase a 6-4 Dodgers lead.
“I didn’t have it today,” Jansen said. “I sucked.”
The Dodgers’ eventual 8-7 loss wasn’t confirmed until two innings later. Austin Meadows belted a home run to right off reliever Josh Sborz in a two-run top of the 11th. A Dodgers comeback bid, fueled by a a runscoring single by Edwin Rios, fell short in the bottom of the frame.
But whereas Sborz’s transgressions were met with apathy, Jansen’s latest misstep was confronted with anger. The Dodgers faithful in attendance Wednesday expressed frustration with the team’s beleaguered closer. As Jansen somberly disappeared from sight, a thinned-out crowd didn’t mask its displeasure.
Everything that happened in the first eight innings — Max Muncy’s tworun second-inning double, Joc Pederson’s game-tying RBI single in the sixth, Cody Bellinger’s insurance solo home run in the eighth, Dustin May’s two scoreless innings of relief — was for
Bellinger the NL MVP. Roberts pondered the question for several seconds.
His answer was as emphatic as his thought process was deliberate. “Yes, yes, yes,” he said. Roberts has continued batting Bellinger fourth, which the manager said has value even when production declines.
“The steady presence in the lineup,” he said. “When you’re taking 650 plate appearances, that consistency is huge for a ballclub.”
Roberts also pointed to Bellinger’s defense, specifically how he’s moved from right field to first base to center field.
“He’s a plus defender anywhere you put him,” Roberts said. “I’ll tell you this: Cody’s baseball instincts are on the higher end and it’s because he’s been around the game for so long.”
Roberts was appreciative of Bellinger’s willingness to play wherever asked.
“When I think of a leader, it’s a person who is unselfish,” Roberts said. “When you’re really putting a priority on defense, that shows leadership.”
The move to center field this month was especially valuable. Alex Verdugo will be sidelined through at least the first round of the playoffs with a lower back injury. A.J. Pollock’s reduced range has pushed him into left field.
Roberts acknowledged playing center field might require Bellinger to run more, but he didn’t think fatigue was to blame for his late-season crash. Rather, he pointed to how opposing pitchers are attacking him with more high fastballs.
That’s what made Bellinger’s eighth-inning home run a particularly welcome sight. The pitch Bellinger whacked was a 96 mph fastball up in the zone by Emilio Pagan.
“Cody got beat on a fastball earlier,” Roberts said. “They tried to go to the well one too many times. He beat it to the spot and got the barrel to it.”
Roberts cited the home run as evidence of Bellinger’s efforts to correct his swing path.
“Really good swing,” Roberts said. “A lot of what he did early on in the season.”
Bellinger was his typically understated self.
“It’s nice seeing results,” he said.
Bellinger had other periods this season when he didn’t hit for average.
This is the first extended stretch in which he hasn’t hit for power. He’s hit six or more home runs in every month this season, except for September.
His slump extended into his early at-bats Wednesday.
Bellinger doubled in the second inning, but only because an extreme shift by the Rays nearly emptied the left side of their infield and allowed a pop-up to shallow left field to drop. Bellinger batted in the sixth inning with the men on the corners and the Dodgers trailing by a run, only to strike out on three pitches by right-handed reliever Oliver Drake.
“It’s just playing the game,” Bellinger said. “I’ve been feeling all right.”
Roberts guessed Bellinger was affected by the MVP talk, but the player denied that was the case.
“No, not really,” he said. “I’m enjoying. Never know when it’s going to happen again.
“I’m feeling pretty good and just trying to carry that into the last stretch of the season and the playoffs.”
October could depend on it.