June 21st, 2016 at 9:30 am 
by Ron Cervenka On Monday night Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw won his 11th game of the season, thus tying Cubs Jake Arrieta and White Sox Chris Sale for most in the MLB. But without question the biggest accomplishment of the night – especially if you ask Kershaw – was Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen not only picking up his 20th save of the season (out of 23 chances) but picking up his 162nd career save to become the Dodgers new all-time saves leader, topping Eric Gagne’s previous franchise record of 161 saves.
“Being in Dodger history, that’s awesome,” Jansen told SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo on the field after the game. “I’m honored to just be a part of the history now. It’s a great day.”
Jansen secured his place in Dodgers immortality by striking out Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and catcher Wilson Ramos and then getting Nats third baseman Anthony Rendon to ground out to Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner to preserve the Dodgers 4-1 lead and lock down Kershaw’s 11th win on the season.
“He’s really good. We’ve been spoiled,” said Kershaw of Jansen after the game. “It just feels like when the ninth inning rolls around, we have a win. And you can’t take that for granted. I’m happy for him. He’s had a nice career here so far, and hopefully there is more to come.”
Jansen strikes out Ryan Zimmerman to begin the ninth inning en route to his franchise record 162nd save.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
But sandwiched in between Kershaw’s dominating seven innings of work during which he allowed only one run on six hits while striking out eight and walking (…wait for it…) none and Jansen’s trademark 1-2-3 ninth inning was another fine nice piece of pitching that went completely unnoticed by Dodger fans, the media and the Dodgers players and coaches themselves. It was right-hander Joe Blanton’s scoreless one inning of relief between Kershaw and Jansen in the top half of the eighth inning.
Not only was the 35-year-old Bowling Green, Kentucky native called upon as the bridge between Kershaw and Jansen, Blanton had to face the Nationals best hitters to do so – center fielder Michael Taylor, who lined out to Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, left fielder Jayson Werth, who flied out to Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson, right fielder Bryce Harper, who reached on an infield single to Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner and 2015 NLDS and NLCS hero second baseman (while with the Mets) and Nats best hitter Daniel Murphy, who grounded out to Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
While Kershaw and Jansen rightfully deserve most of the credit for Monday night’s historic game, Dodgers right-hander Joe Blanton set the stage for them against the Nationals best hitters.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
Blanton’s one inning of work wasn’t fancy or flashy by any means but without it Kershaw might not have pick up the win and Jansen might not have made history – at least not on this night.
On the season Blanton is 3-2 with an outstanding 2.15 ERA – third best among all Dodgers relievers behind left-hander Adam Liberatore’s 0.81 ERA and Jansen’s 1.53 ERA. In fact, as a group, the Dodgers bullpen has a collective earned run average of 3.05 – best in the National league and third-best in all of baseball.
Of course Kershaw never would have been in a position to pick up the win, Blanton his eighth hold or Jansen a shot at his record-setting save were it not for the blazing hot bat of Justin Turner, who slugged his 10th home run of the season and seventh in his last 18 games. Turner has seen his batting average jump from .229 on June 1 to .252 after his two hits (and two RBIs) on Monday night.
“JT’s being JT right now,” said Kershaw of Turner, who has now hit safely in eight straight games. “It was a bit of a struggle for him early (in the season). It’s not really that he’s hot now. This is just him. He hits good pitching. He hits good pitches.”
Turner hit his 10th home run of the season and seventh during the month of June on Monday night.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
While most of the accolades for Monday night’s game go to Kershaw and Jansen, and rightfully so, it would be unfair not to recognize Joe Blanton for setting the table for the game’s best starter and best closer.
Well done, Joe Blanton … well done indeed.
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Good article. I’ve always been a fan of unsung heroes, starting with Larry Sherry.
I thought then, and still think now, that Mickey Hatcher was the real MVP of the ’88 World Series.
Larry Sherry was my first Dodger hero. While he certainly was not the face of the Dodgers, as MVP of the 1959 WS and winner of the Babe Ruth Award, he was not an unsung hero in that particular WS. I remember I could not spend my allowance fast enough looking for my Larry Sherry Topps Baseball Card in 1960. I have no idea how much I spent, but I finally beat all of my friends getting the card. That WS is something that I will never ever forget. Thank you for reminding me again.
I remember that game 6. It was my first year as a baseball fan and I’d figured out that when Larry Sherry pitched the Dodgers always won. The catchy name helped.
April 14, 1962: My first MLB game, only the 5th game at Dodger Stadium. To top off my excitement Larry Sherry comes in to close out the game with Norm Sherry catching.
Mickey was a hero no doubt – maybe as co-hero. For me Orel took the cake by absolutely dominating the A’s. Also was very strong against the Mets to get to the WS.
Blanton has been a pleasant surprise building on his success with the Pirates in 2015. Doesn’t give up many hits and a good K/BB ratio.
Oh, I don’t argue with Orel winning the MVP. I just thought Mickey was the guy who kept the whole team fired up.
It didn’t go unnoticed by me. That was Blanton’s 6th hold in the month of June alone. I believe only Baez, whose last hold was on June 4th, has more with 11.