Morning Sports Update

‘It’s unacceptable’: Kenley Jansen took responsibility for Red Sox loss vs. Rays

Boston rallied from a 5-1 deficit only to lose in the ninth inning.

Kenley Jansen
Red Sox Kenley Jansen during the ninth inning of Thursday's loss against the Rays. Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images

By Hayden Bird

Kenley Jansen’s response to the loss against the Rays: The Red Sox lost to the Rays 7-5 on Thursday, with Boston closer Kenley Jansen surrendering a pair of runs in the ninth inning.

It was an unfortunate outcome for the Red Sox especially in the context of the rest of the game: Having fallen behind 5-1 in the fourth inning, Boston rallied to tie the game by the end of the sixth inning. What might have been the team’s greatest comeback of the season evaporated when Tampa was able to break through again in the final frame.

“To me, it’s unacceptable. I expect better from myself. I’ve got to be better in those situations,” Jansen said after the game. He referenced the four-pitch walk he issued to Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena with one out and no one on that helped to jumpstart the visitors’ rally.

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“I think that’s the one thing that hurt me today was that walk that created this momentum,” Jansen explained. “It’s a tough one.”

Arozarena eventually moved over to third on a Jonathan Aranda single, and scored when Isaac Paredes hit a single off the wall.

“I’m just frustrated I walked the hitter,” Jansen added. “I think at this point in my career, my life, no disrespect to any hitters but I just have to come in and do my job also knowing that one day you’re going to lose, one day you’re going to win. But walking guys, for me, is not in my nature. And I don’t like how it’s going right now, especially [after the] three-pitch strikeout there and then the next hitter I walk him. So to me, that pissed me off the most of this whole outing. Like I said, I’ve gotta be better tomorrow.”

The 36-year-old Jansen might not pitch on Friday. His appearance in Thursday’s loss was his fifth in the last seven days. Still, the Red Sox as a team will have a chance to make an immediate bounce-back, as Boston begins a three-game series tonight in St. Louis against the Cardinals starting at 8:15 p.m.

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Trivia: Kenley Jansen’s first career MLB appearance came for the Dodgers during a game against the Mets in July, 2010. Jansen pitched one inning, striking out two batters (allowing no base-runners). Who was the second player he struck out that day?

(Answer at the bottom.)

Hint: He played his entire career with the Mets, making seven All-Star teams before retiring at the end of the 2018 season.

Scores and schedules:

Tonight, the Bruins host the Panthers in Game 6 of the second-round playoff series at 7 p.m. Florida leads 3-2, and can eliminate Boston with a win.

The Red Sox lost to the Rays, 7-5, and begin a three-game series against the Cardinals tonight at Busch Stadium starting at 8:15 p.m.

And the Celtics learned on Thursday night (thanks to a Timberwolves win against the Nuggets) that the Eastern Conference finals will begin at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Boston will play either the Knicks or Pacers, depending on who wins the series (New York leads 3-2 heading into tonight’s Game 6).

More from Boston.com:

The Eastern Conference finals schedule: The Timberwolves’ win determined a little more of the upcoming NBA playoff schedule. The Celtics will play either the Knicks or Pacers starting with Game 1 on Tuesday:

On this day: In 1986, Larry Bird posted a triple-double (19 points, 16 rebounds, 13 assists) and Kevin McHale blocked five shots (while also adding a game-high 29 points with 11 rebounds) as the Celtics defeated the Bucks 111-107 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.

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Boston would go on to complete the sweep, eventually winning the NBA title that season.

Celtics Bucks Eastern Conference Finals 1986
– Globe Archives

Daily highlight: Possibly the goal-line save of the season from Jordan Matrinook of the Hurricanes, though the Rangers still won in the end in to clinch the series in six games.

Trivia answer: David Wright

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