Kenley Jansen named N.L.’s top reliever, then preserves Game 4 win

Kenley Jansen has converted 88 of 95 save opportunities over the last two regular seasons, a rate that won him his second consecutive National League reliever-of-the-year award Saturday.

“This award is to me, [but] my bullpen guys deserve it too,” he said. “We have one of the best bullpens in the National League. Just forget about those bad days that you have. Have a short memory and continue to push.”

Jansen had 41 saves in 42 tries during the regular season, striking out 109 and posting a 1.32 earned-run average in 681/3 innings. He had one of those bad days in Game 2 of the World Series, when the Astros scored twice with Jansen on the mound, resulting in his second blown save of the year.

To that point, he had been nearly perfect in the postseason, giving up two hits and an unearned run in nine innings. He proved he has a short memory Saturday, returning to form — mostly — by limiting the Astros to a two-out home run in the ninth inning to preserve a 6-2 Dodgers victory that evened the best-of-seven series at two wins apiece.

“You can’t let one bad day affect your season,” said Jansen, who was joined on the stage in the pregame awards ceremony by Kaden, his 2-year-old son. “You’ve just got to give credit to the hitters. They’re going to get lucky once in a while. That’s how you have to feel.”

Boston’s Craig Kimbrel was chosen as the American League’s top reliever after a season in which he converted 35 of 39 save opportunities, striking out 126 batters in 69 innings.

As for short memories …

Clayton Kershaw’s first visit to Minute Maid Park with the Dodgers didn’t end well.

It came in July 2008 and Kershaw, then 20, was winless eight starts into his big-league career when manager Joe Torre pulled him aside to tell him his was being sent to double-Jacksonville.

Kershaw, who got that news just minutes after filling out a ticket request for friends, rushed up the tunnel to the empty clubhouse, tears in his eyes, to angrily clean out his locker.

“It’s disappointing,” he said then. “I didn’t expect it.”

Kershaw now remembers it differently.

“I don’t remember being that emotional or upset,” he said Saturday.

What’s indisputable is that it was the last time Kershaw was demoted. Three weeks later, he was back in a Dodgers uniform to stay, throwing six shutout innings to beat Washington for his first major league win.

He has won 143 regular-season games, three Cy Young Awards and an MVP trophy since then, with his only minor league appearances coming on rehab assignments.

Kershaw, unbeaten this postseason with three wins and a 2.96 ERA, will take the mound Sunday in Houston with a chance to send the Dodgers back to Southern California leading the World Series.

“You can’t compare regular season to postseason,” said Kershaw, who gave up one run in seven innings to beat Houston in Game 1. “Each game is in and of itself. We know it’s getting pretty close to must win.”

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The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger hugs Joc Pederson after Pederson’s three-run homer in the ninth inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Cody Bellinger flips his bat as he hits an RBI double in the ninth inning to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers tosses his bat after hitting an RBI double in the ninth inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Joc Pederson connects for a ninth-inning three-run homer to give the Dodgers a 6-1 lead over the Astros.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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The Dodgers’ Joc Pederson celebrates his three-run home run in the ninth inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Joc Pederson celebrates his three-run home run in front of Astros catcher Brian McCann in the ninth inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Joc Pederson, left, and third base coach Chris Woodward celebrate Pederson’s three-run homer in the ninth inning.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Austin Barnes celebrates with teammates in the Dodgers bullpen after hitting a sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead in the top of the ninth inning.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers raises his arms after hitting a double against the Astros to break his hitless streak in the seventh inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Astros catcher Brian McCann tags out Austin Barnes, who was trying to score from third base in the sixth inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Austin Barnes is tagged out by Astros catcher Brian McCann while trying to score from third base in the sixth inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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The Dodgers’ Enrique Hernandez and Astros pitcher Charlie Morton watch the ball sail into right center field for a sixth-inning hit.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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The Astros’ George Springer hits a solo home run against Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood in the sixth inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood watches a home run by the Astros’ George Springer in the sixth inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers starter Alex Wood catches his breath between batters as he pitches in the fourth inning against the Astros.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Umpire Laz Diaz calls the Dodgers’ Enrique Hernandez out on strikes in the third inning against Astros pitcher Charlie Morton.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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The Dodgers’ Chris Taylor is tagged out by Astros shortstop Carlos Carrea while trying to steal second base in the first inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Chris Taylor of the Dodgers is caught stealing to end the top of the first inning.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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The Dodgers’ Alex Wood throws a pitch against the Astros in the first inning.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Charlie Morton throws to the Dodgers’ Corey Seager during the first inning.

  (Matt Slocum / AP)

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Dodger players huddle in the dugout before Game 4.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Cody Bellinger sits in the Dodgers dugout before Game 4.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen throws from his knees during batting practice.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Andre Ethier of the Dodgers fields a fly ball during batting practice.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers outfielder Curtis Granderson tosses a ball to fans in right field during batting practice before Game 4.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Providing relief

An abbreviated, five-out performance by Yu Darvish on Friday forced manager Dave Roberts to use Kenta Maeda for 22/3 innings in Game 3. Maeda threw 42 pitches, the most he had thrown in a game since Sept. 21. Maeda also threw 25 pitches in Game 2.

The right-hander was unavailable for Game 4, but Roberts expected him to bounce back Sunday for a stint that could last multiple innings, if the Dodgers require it.

“He’s got adrenaline,” Roberts said. “And we can use him for three outs, four outs, potentially.”

In seven October appearances, Maeda has given up only two hits in nine innings.

Clutch performance

The Dodgers were only one for 14 (.071) with runners in scoring position in the first three games of the World Series, something Roberts blamed on his hitters swinging at pitches out of the strike zone. They showed more discipline Saturday, going three for seven, with Cody Bellinger and Logan Forsythe delivering run-scoring hits and Joc Pederson blasting a three-run homer.

andy.mccullough@latimes.com

Twitter: @McCulloughTimes