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A MILESTONE GAME FOR MARIANOA YEAR OF HISTORY
NEW YORK --Mariano Riverawas in rare trouble. Four straight singles trimmed Oakland\'s deficit to two and left the bases loaded forDavid DeJesus.
He hit a line drive toward first -- and suddenly the game was over. Rivera and the Yankees had caught a break.
DeJesus hit into a game-ending double play when pinch-runnerRyan Sweeneygot trapped off first base, and New York held on to beat theOakland Athletics7-5 Sunday.
\"It\'s part of the game,\" Rivera said. \"Broken bat, base hit. Line drive, double play. Figure it out.\"
Bartolo Colonpitched seven effective innings to end a three-start losing streak andCurtis Grandersonhad a two-run homer for the Yankees.Eduardo Nunezhit a two-run double and catcherRussell Martinwas in the middle of everything all afternoon.
New York chased All-Star leftyGio Gonzalezand returned to its winning ways against the A\'s when Rivera staved off a ninth-inning rally with a touch of good fortune.
Hideki Matsui\'s fifth hit, which matched a career high, loaded the bases with one out.Josh Willinghamcut it to 7-5 with an RBI single, the only run Rivera has allowed at home this season.
DeJesus then hit a liner to first basemanMark Teixeira, and Sweeney broke immediately for second. He had no chance to get back before Teixeira stepped on the bag.
\"My run doesn\'t mean anything. I just kind of got overanxious. I didn\'t even realize he was playing on the line,\" Sweeney said.
The 41-year-old Rivera earned his 116th career save of more than one inning, but first this year. He reached 25 saves for the 15th consecutive season, extending his major league record.
\"I\'d be surprised if someone could outdo that,\" Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. \"That\'s one of those records I don\'t think anyone will break.\"
Mariano Rivera(born November 29, 1969) is aPanamanian-Americanformer professionalbaseballpitcherwho played 19 seasons inMajor League Baseball(MLB) for theNew York Yankees, from 1995 to 2013. Nicknamed \"Mo\"[1]and \"Sandman\",[2]he spent most of his career as arelief pitcherand served as the Yankees\'closerfor 17 seasons. A thirteen-timeAll-Starand five-timeWorld Serieschampion, he is MLB\'s career leader insaves(652) andgames finished(952). Rivera won fiveAmerican League(AL)Rolaids Relief Man Awardsand threeDelivery Man of the Year Awards, and he finished in the top three in voting for the ALCy Young Awardfour times. He was elected to theBaseball Hall of Famein itsclass of 2019in his first year of eligibility, and was the first player ever to be elected unanimously by theBaseball Writers\' Association of America(BBWAA).[3]
Raised in the modest Panamanian fishing village ofPuerto Caimito, Rivera was an amateur player until signed by the Yankees organization in 1990. He debuted in the major leagues in 1995 as astarting pitcher, before permanently converting to a relief pitcher late in his rookie year. After a breakthrough season in 1996 as asetup man, he became the Yankees\' closer in 1997. In the following seasons, he established himself as one of baseball\'s top relievers,leading the major leagues in savesin 1999, 2001, and 2004. Rivera primarily threw a sharp-moving, mid-90s mile-per-hourcut fastballthat frequently broke hitters\' bats and earned a reputation as one of the league\'s toughestpitchesto hit. With his presence at the end of games, signaled by his foreboding entrance song \"Enter Sandman\", Rivera was a key contributor to the Yankees\' success in the late 1990s and early 2000s. An accomplishedpostseasonperformer, he was named the1999World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP)and the2003AL Championship Series MVP, and he holds several postseason records, including lowestearned run average(ERA) (0.70) and most saves (42).
Rivera is regarded within baseball as one of the most dominant relievers in major league history. Pitching with a longevity and consistency uncommon to the closer role, he saved at least 25games in 15consecutive seasons and posted an ERA under 2.00 in 11seasons, both of which are records. His career 2.21ERA and 1.00WHIPare the lowest in thelive-ball eraamong qualified pitchers. Fellow players credit him with popularizing the cut fastball across the major leagues. Along with his signature pitch, Rivera was known for his precisecontrol, smooth pitching motion, and for his composure and reserved demeanor on the field. In 2013, the Yankeesretiredhis uniform number 42; he was the last major league player to wear the number full-time, following its league-wide retirement in honor ofJackie Robinson. A devout Christian, Rivera has been involved inphilanthropiccauses and the religious community through the Mariano Rivera Foundation.
2011
That same offseason,Trevor Hoffmanretired as the all-time regular season saves leader with a final tally of 601, leaving Rivera as the active leader in saves and 42 behind Hoffman\'s record to start 2011.[154]Rivera\'s season was marked by several milestones. He broke the all-time record forgames finished,[155]and in May, he became the 15th pitcher to make 1,000appearances and the first to do so with a single team.[156]He was named an All-Star for the 12th time with a 1.85ERA and 22saves in 26opportunities at the midseason break,[157]but for the second consecutive year, he skipped the game to rest injuries.[158]His pursuit of the saves record reached a climax in the final month of the season; on September13, he collected his 600th save, making him just the second pitcher to accomplish the feat.[159]Four days later, he saved his 601st game, tying him with Hoffman for the most in MLB history.[160]Rivera broke the record on September19 atYankee Stadiumby closing out a 6–4 win against the Twins, the final out by strikeout.[161]After the game, Panamanian PresidentRicardo Martinellicalled him to offer his congratulations.[162]Rivera finished the season with a 1.91ERA, a 0.90WHIP, and 44saves in 49opportunities,[61]making him the first pitcher over the age of 40 to save at least 40games in a season.[163]In the offseason, he underwent throat surgery to removepolypsfrom hisvocal cords.[164]
Mariano RiveraRivera pitching for the Yankees in 2007Relief pitcherBorn:November 29, 1969(age49)
Panama City,PanamaBatted:RightThrew:RightMLB debutMay 23,1995,for theNew York YankeesLast MLB appearanceSeptember 26,2013,for theNew York YankeesMLB statisticsWin–loss record82–60Earned run style=\"margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E");\">
New York Yankees(1995–2013)Career highlights and awards
- 5×World Serieschampion (1996,1998–2000,2009)
- World Series MVP(1999)
- ALCS MVP(2003)
- 5×AL Rolaids Relief Man Award(1999, 2001, 2004–2005, 2009)
- 3×Delivery Man of the Year(2005–2006, 2009)
- AL Comeback Player of the Year(2013)
- 3×MLB saves leader(1999, 2001, 2004)
- MLB record 652 career saves
- New York Yankees No. 42retired
- Monument Parkhonoree
IncomingMember of the NationalBaseball Hall of FameInduction2019Vote100% (first ballot)
