With today’s 7-6 victory, Mariano Rivera continued to build up his Hall of Fame career as he tied with Trevor Hoffman for the all-time saves record at 601.
Bartolo Colon started today’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays and lasted just 4 innings. He struggled through a four-run 2nd inning and two-run 4th inning as he gave up all 6 of Toronto’s runs today. Following his exit, the Yankees pieced together the remainder of the game with perfection as only one Toronto Blue Jays batter reached base on a walk through 5 innings.
In the first 5 innings, the Yankees could not figure out how to start and keep a rally going against the Blue Jays rookie, Henderson Alvarez. However, in the 6th inning, after a Curtis Granderson double and Mark Teixeira run-scoring single, Robinson Cano was hit by a pitch and Alex Rodriguez’s return to the Yankees lineup paid off. The Yankees 3rd baseman hit a three-run line drive home run to left field to put 4 runs on the scoreboard and cut the Blue Jays lead down to 1.
Curtis Granderson appeared to have his MVP-swing back as he went 3 for 3 with 2 walks. Of the 3 hits, the 12-pitch at bat he had in the 7th inning was the game-changing play as it was his 40th home run of the season, giving the Yankees a one-run lead and created the score that eventually was a part of history.
Mariano Rivera took the mound in the hunt for his 601st career save to tie him with Trevor Hoffman for the all-time lead. The first batter, Colby Rasmus struck out on a cutter that hit the outside of the strike zone, throwing his back door cutter an inch closer than the pitch before that. The next batter, Brett Lawrie broke his bat on a cutter as he grounded out. Finally, Eric Thames flew out to center field to close the door on a win and put Rivera one save away from having sole possession of the career saves record, a record that may never be passed.
Ryan Nakada
@adakannayr
