Despite hamstring injury, Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen ‘going to try to avoid’ IL stint

Kenley Jansen only threw three pitches on Wednesday before leaving Boston's game against Houston.The Red Sox bullpen took a major hit on Wednesday night in Houston.

In the ninth inning of Boston’s eventual 7-5 extra-innings victory over the Astros, Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen had to exit the game after throwing just three pitches.

Even though he recorded an out, the star reliever was in clear discomfort when Alex Cora and a trainer eventually met him on the mound and pulled him from the game.

Despite the injury, Jansen told MassLive.com’s Chris Smith on Thursday that he hopes to avoid a stint on the IL moving forward.

“No, no, no. Definitely. I’m going to try to avoid that,” Jansen told Smith.…