Jansen needed just a few pitches to find his groove
PHILADELPHIA — Kenley Jansen, who hadn’t pitched since April 29 because of a sore lower back, needed a few pitches to get his rhythm back on Friday night. But once he did it was game over. With runners on first and second, Jansen struck out Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner to preserve a 5-3 victory for the Red Sox against the Phillies.
Jansen acknowledged he was concerned about his back when he took the mound. But when Edmundo Sosa singled with one out and pinch hitter Brandon Marsh walked on five pitches, Janson regained his focus.
“That’s when I started to trust it more,” he said.
Jansen threw Schwarber a fullcount slider that produced an awkward swing.
“He was so geeked up on that cutter. I knew if I threw that slider and kept it a strike as long as I could that would happen,” Jansen said.
Turner went down on three pitches, all cutters.
Kenley Jansen needed 22 pitches to close out a two-run save on Friday. Jansen now has 398 career saves, seventh all-time and one more than Philadelphia’s Craig Kimbrel.
Jansen has been dominant in his first season with the Sox, allowing one run over 9 innings and striking out 15.
Both pitchers are in their age-35 seasons after debuting in 2010. Their careers have been similar, too. Jansen has a 2.44 career earned run average, an 0.93 WHIP and 13.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
Kimbrel has a 2.42 ERA, an 0.99 WHIP and 14.3 strikeouts per nine.
“He had a little bit of a head start on me becoming a closer,” Jansen said. “But I caught up.”
Jansen has shown a better finishing kick to his career. He has a 3.03 ERA and 129 saves since 2019. Kimbrel has a 4.03 ERA and 64 saves over the same period.
Since helping the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series, Kimbrel has pitched for the Cubs, White Sox, Dodgers and now the Phillies.
The Phillies have been using more of a closer-by-committee approach with lefty José Alvarado and Kimbrel getting opportunities.
With the Sox, Jansen is the choice to close out games whenever he’s available.