Dodgers' Jansen, back from irregular heartbeat, takes loss

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, back after missing nearly two weeks due to an irregular heartbeat, gave up homers to the first two batters he faced Monday in his return from the disabled list.

Entering a 3-3 game against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals in the top of the ninth, Jansen (0-4) promptly was taken deep by Jedd Gyorko and Matt Carpenter. Jansen wound up allowing another hit but struck out two in the inning, and the right-hander was the losing pitcher as the Dodgers fell 5-3.

After meeting with a cardiologist earlier Monday, Jansen told reporters that he was off blood thinners. The right-hander added, "I'm ready to go. ... I don't need to be babied."

Jansen has activated from the disabled list ahead of the game. In a corresponding move, the team placed left-hander Zac Rosscup on the 10-day disabled list because of a strained left calf.

Jansen, 30, said last week that he might need a second heart surgery in the offseason to address atrial fibrillation. He underwent a catheter ablation in 2012 to deal with the issue.

"I'm not thinking about my heart," Jansen said Monday. "I'm not. You have no control over your heart, so if it goes, it goes. That's how I think.

"I'm in great shape. I do a lot of running during the down times, so I'm ready to go."

In Jansen's absence, the Dodgers' bullpen was abysmal, blowing leads in seven consecutive games during one stretch and losing five of those contests.

"He's excited," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts before the game. "It seems like he's ready to pitch two innings tonight, so we'll temper that excitement. But for our ballclub, it's a huge lift.

"He's the best in the game, so it changes the way (the Cardinals are) going to manage."

Los Angeles was tied for first place in the National League West when Jansen began experiencing heartbeat problems in Denver on Aug. 9. Following the Monday loss, they are in third place, 2 1/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks and two games back of the Colorado Rockies.

Jansen led the National League with 32 saves at the time he went on the disabled list, having blown just three leads. His ERA rose to 2.44 ERA after his 52nd appearance Monday. He also topped the NL with 41 saves last year and finished with a 1.32 ERA, winding up fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting.

Last month, Jansen made his third consecutive All-Star team. In 525 games over nine major league seasons, all with the Dodgers, Jansen is 262-for-291 in save opportunities with a 24-17 record and a 2.11 ERA.

Right-hander Kenta Maeda and left-hander Scott Alexander shared the closer role in Jansen's absence.

Rosscup, 30, was picked up by Los Angeles off waivers from the Colorado Rockies in July. He has pitched in eight games with the Dodgers, giving up five runs in 6 2/3 innings for a 6.75 ERA with 10 strikeouts and one walk.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)