Atlanta Braves’ Kenley Jansen is saved in first appearance back to Dodger Stadium, with Freddie Freeman as final pitch

LOS ANGELES – Kenley Jansen entering the ninth inning of Tuesday to wrap up a game from Dodger Stadium as a member of Atlanta Braves. His last time was Freddie Freemancurrently a member of Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jansen couldn’t help but laugh thinking about it.

‘That’s weird,’ Jansen said after the Braves’ 3-1 win, came after his 186th regular-season save from Dodger Stadium. “I’ve faced that guy so many times in all those Braves series. Now it’s the opposite. Yeah, it’s crazy, man. The game is crazy now. But it’s fun.”

Jansen had set his sights on returning to the Dodgers this season, just as Freeman was expected to return to the Braves, but things changed shortly after the lockdown was lifted around mid-March.

Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos is said to have rejected the ultimatum from Freeman’s representatives and instead exchanged Matt Olson. Jansen in. budget. But the Braves made a year-long, $16 million offer to Jansen and needed a quick answer, prompting Jansen to turn the Dodgers down to join the team he grew up in Curacao on March 18. .

A segment of the sold-out crowd at Dodger Stadium initially greeted Jansen with boos as he entered from the right-court area on Tuesday, but most of those present soon stopped. and clapping. The response was essentially mixed, somewhat lighthearted, with Jansen’s trademark entry song, “California Love,” no longer jarring from the speaker.

“It’s all about business now,” says Jansen. “I’m happy to help my team win. That’s what I did. It’s okay. No hard feelings. I will love them. They will be in my heart forever.”

Jansen was commemorated with a tribute video minutes before his first appearance on Monday, and then he strolled the field with his wife and two children to receive mementos from the early save. his career first from coach Dave Roberts, the Dodgers’ third. Justin Turner and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.

The 34-year-old right hand admits his adrenaline will be unusually high in his first game against his longtime teammates, but he was able to control his emotions when he finally hit rubber ball on Tuesday, retired. Will Smith, Mookie betting and Freeman in order.

Jansen has been working to maintain his focus.

“I just got locked out — right here, right now,” he said. “It helps me. Just be in the moment. Be in the moment, be in the moment. Even this moment today is a moment full of emotions, but I love it. I would love to be. out there.”