Kenley Jansen Delivers Message To Alex Cora Before Save Vs. Rangers

BOSTON — Red Sox reliever Lucas Sims, who came over from the Cincinnati Reds at the trade deadline, said he makes sure to listen whenever Kenley Jansen speaks.

So does Red Sox manager Alex Cora.

And Jansen had a message for Cora prior to locking down a four-out save for Boston in a 9-4 win over the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on Tuesday night.

“They called down in the eighth when we sent (Bailey) Horn (in), and he’s like, ‘I’m ready for four,’ and I’m like, ‘Ok, thank you,'” Cora said. “It was either him for four or (Zack) Kelly with two men on and one out. But Horn did a good job getting (Corey) Seager out and gave us two outs in the eighth and big boy came in and did his thing.”

It was the fourth time this season Jansen worked more than one inning to notch a save — he has now collected 22 in total. And the veteran closer didn’t want to leave anything to chance with the Red Sox protecting a slim two-run lead in the top of the eighth.

Horn, who got Seager to line out to end the seventh, got the first two outs of the eighth before allowing a single to Nathaniel Lowe. It was a no-brainer after that for Cora, who used an aggressive approach, to go to Jansen since he was ready to take over.

Jansen retired all four batters he faced and finished things out in the ninth even though the Red Sox gave him more breathing room by scoring three times in the bottom of the eighth.

“Feel great,” Jansen said. “Whatever we have to do to help our team win ball games, that’s what we got to do. We play hard in this one. In the sixth, it kind of went a little dicey there but that’s what you have to do, you have to step up and try to hold this game.”

Jansen is putting together another dynamite season as he anchors the back end of the Red Sox bullpen. And by doing so, he’s backing up his talk.

“In the short time I’ve been here, that’s kind of the simple approach is just get the ball to the big fella with the lead,” Sims said. “He’s been great getting to know him. I’m trying to not annoy him too much, but he’s just got so much knowledge and whenever he speaks, you listen up. He’s a great asset and a great teammate to have.”