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Jansen's save streak snapped on 1st career walk-off HR

Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Heading into Friday's series opener against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen hadn't blown a save since Aug. 23, 2015, converting his last 12 chances down the stretch last year while nailing all 13 of his tries in 2016.

Apparently, Melvin Upton Jr. didn't care much for that streak.

Down by one with a runner on first in the bottom of the ninth, Upton smacked an 0-2 cutter from the 28-year-old right-hander over the fence in right-center, lifting the Padres to a 7-6 victory with his second walk-off homer of 2016 while saddling Jansen with his first blown save in 25 chances.

Since 1913, only 62 relievers have converted more than 25 consecutive save opportunities without fail, two of whom - Brad Ziegler (36) and Jeurys Familia (30) - are presently gunning for Eric Gagne's all-time record of 84 straight successful save opportunities. Jansen, who ranks third among relievers in WAR since the start of 2012, made 36 appearances between blown saves, crafting a 1.29 ERA with a 30 percent strikeout rate over that span.

Seeing as Jansen hadn't allowed a walk-off home run in 355 career relief appearances before Friday's contest, though, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was a bit nonplussed after his club dropped their third straight game.

"Tonight was one of those for sure head-scratchers," Roberts told MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. "Kenley has been lights out. You can't expect him to be perfect. I expect to have a lead tomorrow and use him again and I expect him to rebound. It's not an easy game. Got to be a man about it and turn the page."

(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)

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