ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Alex Cora and assistant athletic trainer David Herrera went to the mound in the ninth inning on Wednesday night to check on Kenley Jansen.
His right shoulder was sore but Jansen convinced them he could finish the game. He did, striking out Logan Driscoll with two runners on to secure a 2-1 victory.
Career save No. 447 didn’t come easily, but Jansen wasn’t leaving the mound until the game was over.
“[Cora] wants to come out and grab me, but that’s my game,” Jansen said on Thursday before a 2-0 loss against the Rays. “I know I feel [sore] but that’s my game to finish there.”
Jansen has been dealing with a sore lat muscle “and some other stuff” this month. But he still averaged 92 miles per hour with his cutter on Wednesday, right in line with his season average.
“We’ll get through it,” Jansen said. “Grind, I guess. That’s all I can do. I definitely don’t feel great but you’ve just got to get through it.”
Jansen received treatment after the game but the Sox flew righthander Luis García to Florida in case a roster move was needed.
But going on the injured list would have ended his season and Jansen wasn’t interested in that. He threw in the bullpen on Thursday to show the Sox he was healthy, or at least healthy enough.
Jansen has a 3.51 ERA over two seasons and 79 appearances for the Sox. He has converted 56 of 64 save chances.
Jansen turns 37 later this month but plans to continue his career for another few years. He will be a free agent after the season. His goals are to earn another World Series ring and to join Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman in the 500-save club.
“He’s going to continue,” Cora said. “He’s been more available this year when compared to last year — back-to-backs, four-out saves. He usually doesn’t do that and I love the fact he’s been able to.”
Cora trusts Jansen to prepare the way he sees fit. As a player, he saw how closers went about their business and that sometimes it was best just to leave them alone. As a manager, he takes the same approach.
“You know they’re going to be prepared,” Cora said.
With Liam Hendriks expected to be ready to pitch next season and Justin Slaten identified as a candidate to close by pitching coach Andrew Bailey, it seems unlikely that Jansen will return to the Sox.
Rotation set for weekend
Rookie righthander Richard Fitts is set to face the Twins on Friday night at Fenway Park.
Fitts has started two games since being called up and allowed two unearned runs over 10⅔ innings.
Kutter Crawford and Nick Pivetta are lined up for Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
The Twins, who are trying to hold off the Tigers in the wild card race, will start righthanders David Festa, Pablo López, and Zebby Matthews.
The Twins and Tigers are tied for the third wild card at 80-73. They do not face each other again. Minnesota holds the tiebreaker, having won the season series.
Sims returns
Lucas Sims was activated off the injured list and rookie lefthander Bailey Horn was optioned to Triple A Worcester. Sims had been out since Aug. 27 with a lat strain. Cora said García would be activated this weekend . . . The Rays paid tribute to Sox radio broadcaster Joe Castiglione, who announced he would retire after the season . . . First baseman Bryan Gonzalez was named to the South Atlantic League postseason All-Star team. Gonzalez, who turned 23 on Wednesday, hit .272 with 20 home runs, 59 RBIs and an .845 OPS in 91 games for Greenville, earning a late-season promotion to Double A Portland. Gonzalez was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2018.
Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at peteabeglobe.bsky.social.