Good Job, Dodger Fans!

There is no disputing that Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen has had a rough couple of weeks. In fact, over his last five appearances, he is 1-2 with three blown saves; this since July 11. There is also no disputing that when he was removed from Thursday night’s ugly 5-3 loss to the NL West first-place San Francisco Giants, his second blown save – and loss – in as many days to a chorus of loud boos from understandably upset Dodger fans, it really ticked Dodgers manager Dave Roberts off, among many others.

Things had gotten so bad for the 33-year-old Willemstad, Curacao native, who has been a Dodger for his entire 12-year MLB career, that Roberts told reporters during his pre-game media scrum on Saturday afternoon that Jansen was unavailable to pitch on Saturday night.

Jansen pitched on Saturday night.

But unlike the two previous nights in which he walked off the field to those aforementioned boos, he emerged from the Dodgers bullpen on Saturday evening to a thunderous chorus of cheers from Dodger fans.

“I was really excited the way he was received tonight,” Roberts said after his team’s 1-0 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night, in which Jansen notched his 22nd save of the season and 334th of his career. “I know Kenley fed off of it. I really do believe that, and he was really good tonight. To have him throw the baseball, close out a one-run game, was big for all of us.”

Jansen strikes out Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron for the final out to give the Dodgers a 1-0 win over their division rivals in front of a cheering Dodger Stadium crowd of 42,245.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

As for that lone Dodgers (winning) run, it came off the bat of Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes on a 399-foot solo home run into the Field Level seats just inside the left-field foul pole in the bottom of the second inning. It would prove to be the sum and total of the Dodgers offense on the night. But behind the stellar pitching of right-hander Tony Gonsolin, left-hander Alex Vesia, right-hander Joe Kelly (who Roberts had also said was unavailable), right-hander Blake Treinen, and Jansen, the Dodgers held the Rockies scoreless, while allowing only two hits with four walks and 10 strikeouts. It was enough to give Gonsolin his second win of the season and, as noted, Jansen his 22nd save.

Although no one knew it at the time, Barnes’ solo home run in the bottom of the second inning would be the only run scored on the night. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

As for the boos the night before and the loud cheers from fans on Saturday night, Jansen made it abundantly clear that he will always “…give it the best I got.”

“My emotions with the Dodgers is always there; that will never change. I’m grateful; I’m thankful to be here my whole career. So, every day that I get a chance to wear this uniform, I’m going to give it the best I got and try to help us win games.” – Kenley Jansen. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Good job, Kenley!

…and good job, Dodger fans!

Play Ball!

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4 Responses to “Good Job, Dodger Fans!”

  1. Lili Lili says:

    @Dodgers Dodger fan through thick and thin. 4-ever Blue for 45 yrs.

  2. Barbkski says:

    Good job all around indeed!

  3. Its amazing how this team bounces back.
    GO DODGERS!!!!

  4. Andrew Vincent Forte says:

    In a lesser trade move I would take Joc back as a bench player and his 60 game salary for the post season in a minute. He’s better than the current shuffling of AAAA players Andrew brings up and down that bring absolutely NOTHING to the party. Strike outs and unable to move runners in key situations has been the norm from these players. They are just not ready for primetime. You know what you will get from Joc, a great team player,, comes up big in the post season and a decent outfielder. Make the deal because the Braves have no chance of making the playoffs with their current roster with key players hurt or suspended with domestic violence. It will not cost much capital to acquire him. He’s a rental and a FA at the end of the season..

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