Jenks returned from the disabled list on May 31 and allowed two hits and no runs in the eighth inning of a 10-7 loss to the White Sox, his former team. The shutout frame was Jenks’ first since an April 21 appearance against the Angels, a span of three outings.
Jenks picked up the win in the Red Sox’ 8-6, come-from-behind victory over the A’s on June 3. With Boston trailing 6-5 to Oakland, Jenks got the call in the seventh inning. Josh Willingham greeted him with a double, but after a balk and walk put runners on the corners with one out, Jenks got Daric Barton to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Jenks’ performance paved the way for some more Carl Crawford heroics in the bottom of the seventh, as the left fielder hit a two-run, bases-loaded single to give the Sox a 7-6 lead they would not relinquish.
This week’s outings were a step in the right direction for Jenks, whose ERA climbed from 0.00 to 9.35 between April 12 and May 1. He now sits at 2-2 with a 6.57 ERA on the season.