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SAN DIEGO (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts won't hesitate to send Kenley Jansen out for save opportunities despite the closer's shaky start to the season.
"Absolutely not. No," Roberts said before Wednesday's series finale against San Diego, less than 24 hours after Jansen blew his second save opportunity of 2018, already double his total of last year. "Save situation tonight, even potentially a non-save situation to keep the game close, or whether we need an inning or not, I have no hesitance in running him out there."
It took the Dodgers 12 innings to beat the Padres 7-3 Tuesday night after Jansen's rough ninth.
The Dodgers took a combined two-hitter and a 3-1 lead into the ninth. Jansen allowed Eric Hosmer's towering leadoff home run to center and then a watched as center fielder Chris Taylor robbed Christian Villanueva of a homer for the second out. Jansen then walked Franchy Cordero, who stole second and took third on Jansen's balk.
Pinch-hitter Chase Headley, who came in hitting just .038, doubled to right on a 3-2 pitch to tie it. Jansen struck out pinch-hitter Austin Hedges to send it into extras.
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