The Los Angeles Angels defeated the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, April 8, with a 4-3 victory, and it resulted in a historic achievement for former Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen.
Entering the ninth trying to protect a one-run lead, Jansen allowed a single, stolen base, another single and another stolen base to put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position.
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Jansen recorded the first out on a ground ball to third base when Luis Rengifo was able to throw out the runner at home. However, the runner on first ended up stealing second to once again put the go-ahead run in scoring position.
But that didn’t matter as Jansen struck out the next two hitters to close out the game and record the 450th save of his career and add a moment he won’t forget, via Brian Murphy of MLB.com:
“Well, this one’s definitely going to be a memorable one,” Jansen said following the Angels’ 4-3 victory at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Jansen, who is MLB’s active saves leader, is 29 away from passing Lee Smith for the third most in league history, and he could get to that mark this season.
If he doesn’t surpass Smith, it’s likely Jansen would want to pitch another season. It’s unlikely Jansen would be able to reach higher than third as he’s in his age-37 season and trails Trevor Hoffman by 151 saves.
But regardless of which spot he ends up at, Jansen has already proven himself as a Hall of Fame closer and one of the best in MLB history:
Jansen said getting No. 450 was “awesome” and added, “I guess it shows greatness.”
During his 16-year career, Jansen spent 12 of them with the Dodgers and recorded 350 of his saves with the club to become the franchise’s all-time leader.
While with the Dodgers, Jansen was named an All-Star three times, won two National League Trevor Hoffman Relief Pitcher of the Year Awards and became a World Series champion in 2020.
After the 2021 season, Jansen left L.A. and joined the Atlanta Braves, where he spent one season and picked up 41 saves. He then spent two seasons with the Boston Red Sox, earning 56 saves, before joining the Angels this past offseason and picking up three more so far.
Kenley Jansen hopeful to retire with Dodgers
Jansen expected to spent the entirety of his career with the Dodgers and playing alongside Clayton Kershaw, but he was unable to work out a new contract with the club and ended up joining the Braves.
But Jansen still has a special place in his heart for the Dodgers, and he would love to end his career back where it all started.
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