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Dodgers’ Kenley Jansen goes from son’s birth to earning a save

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is congratulated by catcher Yasmani Grandal after a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is congratulated by catcher Yasmani Grandal after a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
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In the wake of recording his first four-out save this season, Kenley Jansen exhaled.

“A little exhausted right now, but I feel great,” he said.

A Sunday that ended with Jansen preserving the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds started with him witnessing the birth of his son Kaden.

Jansen said he woke up at 4 a.m.

“Couldn’t sleep,” he said.

Jansen and his girlfriend had planned to have labor induced Sunday because the Dodgers were heading to Oakland on Monday for the start of an eight-game, three-city trip.

“Do it this way so I don’t have to go on the road and fly back and miss some games,” Jansen said. “I know these are important games for us.”

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Kaden Isaiah Jansen was born at 9:58 a.m. His father was at Dodger Stadium less than three hours later for the start of the series finale against the Reds.

“Felt weird,” said Jansen, who also has a 2-year-old daughter.

Jansen was called into game in the eighth inning to pitch to home run derby champion Todd Frazier. Joey Votto, who was walked by J.P. Howell, stood on first base.

Jansen struck out Frazier to end the threat and proceeded to pitch a perfect ninth inning.

The save was the 24th for Jansen, who has failed to convert only one save opportunity this season.

The save was also the 130th of his career, which moved him past Jeff Shaw into second on the franchise’s all-time list. Only Eric Gagne had more saves for the Dodgers, with 161.

“You’re going to be recognized by winning championships. That’s my goal. That’s what I’m focused on — winning, not my stats,” Jansen said. “But it feels great to be second all-time on one of the most historic organizations.”

Looking ahead

Manager Don Mattingly said he and members of the front office have started discussing which players could be called up from the minor leagues when rosters expand in September.

Mattingly wouldn’t say whether 19-year-old left-hander Julio Urias was under consideration to be a late-season reinforcement for the bullpen.

Urias, who is in double A, has pitched in 14 minor league games this season, all of them starts. He is 2-4 with a 3.38 earned-run average.

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Because Urias was sidelined for nearly two months after undergoing a cosmetic operation on his left eye — the eye has a benign mass — he isn’t in danger of reaching his innings limit by September.

“I think he’s OK innings-wise,” Mattingly said. “I think they’ve kind of planned it that if that was something that we wanted to do, that we would be able to do it.”

Asked whether Urias could have the kind of effect Fernando Valenzuela had as a late-season call-up in 1980, Mattingly replied, “I don’t think that’s fair to throw that on him. He’s still a young kid developing. They’re going to do what’s best for him maturing into, hopefully, a great starter.”

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