Scoreless innings were all the rage Sunday, but ultimately youth was served for the Dodgers.
After Clayton Kershaw (pictured above) blanked the Mets for eight innings, newbie pitcher Kenley Jansen then bailed out a depleted bullpen to earn his first career save in the Dodgers’ 1-0 victory over New York at Dodger Stadium.
That’s earning his first save, still one year shy of becoming a pitcher. Jansen spent the first 4 1/2 seasons of his career as a light-hitting catcher.
Earning his first save, one day after making his major league debut.
Jansen, 22, was again perfect Sunday, retiring the heart of the Mets’ lineup in order for the second consecutive day. He struck out two and now has four in two major league innings.
Could it be the Dodgers are on to something in Jansen?
With the Dodgers’ offense still struggling, the game remained scoreless going into the bottom of the eighth when Casey Blake hit a one-out single to left off reliever Pedro Feliciano.
After right fielder Angel Pagan made a nice running catch on a Rafael Furcal foul, Russell Martin drove a double into the left-center gap.
Third base coach Larry Bowa waved Blake home, where his head-first slide scored the game’s lone run.
Kershaw (10-5) was excellent in his eight innings, holding the Mets scoreless on seven hits. Kershaw, also 22, struck out three and his only walk was intentional.
R.A. Dickey threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings for the Mets before leaving with a leg injury after slipping on the mound while delivering a pitch.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Photo credit: Stephen Dunn / Getty Images
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