Jansen pitches perfect inning in spring training debut

Associated Press

Jansen pitches perfect inning in spring training debutBy JOSE M. ROMERO

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen needed 13 pitches to throw a perfect inning in his first game appearance since the World Series, an exhibition against Kansas City on Thursday.

Jansen entered in the third inning with an 8-3 lead. He struck out Ramon Torres, retired Jon Jay on a popup and got Alex Gordon to make weak contact on a cutter, producing a flyout.

”To get back in front of 8,000 people out there, it gets your adrenalin going a little bit more,” the two-time National League Reliever of the Year said. ”I feel great.”

Jansen was to have pitched last Friday but was held out after feeling hamstring tightness. He is to pitch Saturday against the Chicago White Sox.

”Just stick with the process. Stay with running and the weight room. Building my arm strength outside, playing catch. Don’t rush it,” Jansen said. ”You just have to have that confidence and go out there and trust it. I felt really good today.”

A two-time All-Star, Jansen threw 85 innings over 78 games last year, including the postseason. Jansen dealt with a flu-like virus that caused several Dodgers to miss some time earlier in spring training.

”Kenley’s had the longest offseason of anyone. He’s had a full offseason,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Notes: Projected starting rotation members Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda pitched on Thursday, Hill against the Royals and Maeda in a minor league game at the Dodgers’ complex. Hill was pounded for six runs and seven hits, and the only out he got was via strikeout. ”Going out there and pitching like that is unacceptable,” Hill said. … Yasmani Grandal hit his fourth home run, matching Dodgers teammate Matt Kemp. … Royals prospect Ryan O’Hearn hit two home runs in the first two innings, a three-run drive off Hill and a two-run homer against Cesar Ramos.

More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

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