Kenley Jansen Surrenders Back-to-Back Homers in Return as Dodgers Fall to Cardinals

Maybe his return was premature. 

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen allowed ninth-inning homers to Jedd Gyorko and Matt Carpenter in his return from the disabled list, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat Los Angeles 5-3 on Monday night.

Gyorko led off the top of the ninth inning of a tie game with a homer off Jansen to deep center field, and Carpenter followed with his NL-leading 34th homer of the season to nearly the same spot. It was the sixth time this season St. Louis has hit back-to-back homers.

"I'm not an excuse guy, but everything was flat," Jansen said of the homers. "The more I kept going in the inning I started to feel better, but those first two hitters I wasn't in my comfort zone. I was battling more with myself. I finally settled in, that's the good thing."

Jansen (0-4) retired the next two batters before giving up a single to Marcell Ozuna. He got pinch-hitter Tyler O'Neill to end the inning, but the damage was done.

"I was amped up to be back, and I tried hard and everything flats out," said Jansen. "I just tried to get three outs and my fastball started to move again and all that stuff started to work. This one was a bad one and I have to be ready for tomorrow." 

Jansen's return had been eagerly anticipated since the Dodgers' bullpen had a 5.17 ERA while he was out. He was activated earlier in the day after being cleared by a cardiologist. The All-Star had been hospitalized for an irregular heartbeat on Aug. 9 and was expected to be out a month. Jansen hadn't pitched since Aug. 7.

"I'm glad to be back to be honest with you," said Jansen. "The DL was frustrating. Stuff happens in life to slow me down, but you just have to move forward."

Closer Bud Norris walked Matt Kemp leading off the bottom of the ninth before striking out the next three batters to end the game and get his 25th save.

Jose Martinez hit a solo shot in the first, making it the 13th straight game in which the Cardinals homered, the longest active streak in the majors this season.

Martinez's RBI single in the fifth gave St. Louis a 2-0 lead.

The Dodgers failed to score after threatening in the bottom of the eighth. Pinch-hitter Yasiel Puig reached on an infield single to the pitcher and took third on a wild pitch by Jordan Hicks.

After Hicks struck out Justin Turner, Brett Cecil (1-1) came in and intentionally walked Manny Machado. He took second on defensive indifference, putting runners on second and third, but Cody Bellinger lined out to end the inning.

Turner extended his 13-game hitting streak with a single in the first. Bellinger's 12-game hitting streak ended when he went 0 for 3 with a strikeout and a walk. 

Pinch-hitter Max Muncy tied the game 3-all with a two-out, RBI single in the seventh off Hicks, who then walked Chris Taylor to load the bases. But Yasmani Grandal struck out swinging to end the inning.

"It was a tough at-bat," said Muncy who hit the game-tying single on a 103.1 MPH fastball by Hicks. "You almost have to slow everything down and be loose and relaxed and quick with the bat. You have to start your swing a lot earlier than you normally would. The common thought is when they throw hard you have to swing hard, but you don't. You just have to get the bat on the ball."

According to ESPN Stats and Info, the RBI single by Muncy is the fastest pitch anyone has recorded a hit on in the Major Leagues this season.

The Dodgers scored in the fifth on Machado's RBI single and Bellinger's sacrifice fly to trail 3-2. Los Angeles had the potential tying run at second, but rookie starter Austin Gomber retired the next three batters.

Dodgers starter Alex Wood allowed three runs and seven hits in four innings, extending his streak of 12 straight outings with three earned runs or less. He struck out four and walked two. 

"I felt really good in the bullpen, but the rest was history I guess," said Wood. "I thought my stuff was alright. We're just glad to have Kenley back."

Gomber gave up two runs and five hits in five innings of his fifth career start. He struck out four and walked four.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (right elbow inflammation) will throw another few innings for Double-A Springfield. He has been out of the majors since May 13. ... RHP Michael Wacha (left oblique strain) will throw at Class A Palm Beach on Thursday.

Dodgers: RHP JT Chargois left the game after tossing six pitches in the fifth because of neck discomfort. ... LHP Zac Rosscup went on the 10-day DL with a left calf strain. He has a 6.75 ERA in eight relief appearances this season. ... RHP Ross Stripling is expected to toss from a mound in the next couple days and eventually face hitters before being activated. His role upon his return has yet to be determined.

UP NEXT

Rookie RHP Daniel Poncedeleon (0-0, 2.04 ERA) replaces Luke Weaver in the rotation for the Cardinals. Poncedeleon tossed seven scoreless innings against the Reds on July 23 without allowing a hit in his only previous start of the season. Weaver is headed to the bullpen. LHP Hyn-Jin Ryu (3-0, 1.77) takes the mound for the Dodgers in the middle game of the series. Ryu pitched six scoreless innings against the Giants last week.