Hiroki Kuroda got off to a bad start as the surrendered a two run blast to Edwin Encarnacion and a solo shot to Brett Lawrie giving Toronto an early 3-0 lead. However, he settled down and pitched six innings. Vernon Wells took Buehrle deep again and Robinson Cano gave the Yankees the lead for good when he hit a three run shot.

Chamberlain and Robertson set up for Rivera with scoreless seventh and eighth innings, respectively. In the ninth Rivera struck out J.P. Arencibia, broke the bat of Colby Rasmus inducing a weak pop up to Cano at second and then froze Brett Lawrie looking to end the game.

Rivera is 0-0 on the season with 7 saves in 7 save opportunities and his 2013 season ERA now stands at 2.25.

David Price deserved a better fate as he pitched into the eighth inning. The Rays jumped out early to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly from Ben Zobrist. The Yankees came back in the middle of the game. Eduardo Nunez reached after he swung and miss on a third strike but it went past Molina and Nunez reached with no outs. Cano singled and Nunez took third and scored on an RBI single from Vernon Wells.

The Rays went ahead 2-1 on a bloop RBI single from Jose Molina. The Yankees struck right back as Ichiro singled with out out and on a hit and run took third on a single from Jayson Nix. Brett Gardner hit a slow grounder to second and Ichiro scored to tie the game.

Cano led off the ninth with a single to left off David Price. Price was relieved by Fernando Rodney and struck out Vernon Wells but Cano was running on the pitch and stole second. Travis Hafner pinch hit and was intentionally walked. Lyle Overbay walked to load the bases and then Stewart fouled out to first for the second out. Ichiro lined the first pitch to center to score two runs and give the Yankees the lead at 4-2.

Rivera entered in the ninth and on the first pitch Evan Longoria took him deep to left to cut the deficit to one run at 4-3. Rivera then got tough and got Matt Joyce to ground to first as he covered for the first out. Yunel Escobar flew out to right for the 2nd out and then James Loney lined out to left to end the game.

For Rivera he is 0-0 on the season with 6 saves in 6 save opportunities. For his career, Rivera now has 614 saves. His 2013 season ERA now stands at 2.57 with the run given up.

Hiroki Kuroda was brilliant for 7 1/3 innings, not allowing a run. David Robertson was not sharp and gave up an RBI single to Rajai Davis and a two run single to Melky Cabreara which tied the game at 3.

Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan and Shawn Kelley got through the ninth and tenth innings and the Yankees rallied in the top of the 11th aided by a huge throwing error from Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Loup. Veron Wells led off with a single to right center and Francisco Cervelli grounded a single through the shortstop hole to runners on first and second with none out. Ichiro bunted and the ball was fielded by Loup but third basemen Brett Lawrie could not get back to the bag and the through went into left field allowing both runners to score and give the Yankees the lead at 5-3.

Rivera entered in the 11th and Jose Bautista doubled hard to the wall in left. Edwin Encarnacion lined hard to right but Ichiro was there for the first out. The Sandman then closed the door and he struck out J.P. Arencibia on a swinging third strike and then got Brett Lawrie looking on the third pitch to end the game.

Rivera is 0-0 on the season with 5 saves in 5 save opportunities. His 2013 season ERA now stands at 1.50.

It looked like this would fall into the "L" column for the Bombers as Diamondback starter Wade Miley was dominant into the seventh inning. Sabathia surrendered two in the first on a home run by Goldschmidt as it took CC 31 pitches to complete the inning.

In the fifth Arizona extended the lead to 3-0 on a triple and sacrifice fly. Miley was sailing into the seventh as he attacked Yankee hitters all night and had only given up two hits.

In the seventh Francisco singled and that was followed by a bloop double off the bat of Brennan Boesch. Nunez battled for a walk to load the bases and Jayson Nix also walked to force in a run and get the Yankees to within two at 3-1. The bases were loaded with two outs and Brett Gardner was due. Kirk Gibson decided to change pitchers and Tony Sipp entered. Gardner got ahead in the count and lined a single over the head of shortstop and the Yankees had battled back to tie the score at 3. Vernon Wells grounded out to end the inning.

Sabathia stayed on for the eighth and retired Arizona easily. Rivera began warming and was coming in whether the Yankees scored or not. The first two batters were retired easily for the Yankees and that left it up to pinch hitter Travis Hafner. Hafner took the first pitch from David Hernandez and crushed it over the right field fence to give the Yankees the lead at 4-3.

Rivera entered and fell behind Cody Ross 3-0 before he flew out to right for the first out. Eric Chavez pinch hit and grounded out to short. Parra battled and just like last night grounded to Cano at second to end the game.

The save for Rivera is his 4th of the season in 4 save opportunities and the 612th of his career. His 2012 season ERA now stands at 1.80.

Ivan Nova struggled over five innings but only surrendered 2 runs on seven hits and two walks. However, Brandon McCarthy of Arizona struggled as well. He left early as his pitch count got to the 100 mark. Robinson Cano hit a three run homer off of him in the fourth to give the Yankees the lead to stay.

Nova was relieved by Boone Logan, Joba Chamberlain, David Robertson and then Mariano Rivera. The bullpen pitched four innings and did not allow a run.

Rivera faced A.J. Pollock to start the inning and Pollock battled but Mo struck him out swinging on the eighth pitch of the AB. Cliff Pennington fouled out to Overbay for the second out and then Parra hit the first pitch and grounded to Cano to end the game.

The save for Rivera was his 3rd in 3 save opportunities and the 611th of his career. His record is 0-0 and his 2013 season ERA now stands at 2.25.

MLB.com's Barry M. Bloom reports that, according to one of the Yankees top executives, the team will retire Mariano Rivera's #42 after this season.

I realize that this is not at all news. Even if the Yankees didn't do it, which they obviously will, Major League Baseball will no longer allow another player to wear the number. At any rate, let's no get ahead of ourselves. We still have most of a season of Mr. Rivera to enjoy.

Mariano Rivera entered in the ninth after CC Sabathia pitched great on a very cold night in the Bronx. He faced Adam Jones first and he flew out to left for the first out. Matt Wieters lined to center before Chris Davis got a single. JJ Hardy then flew out to right to end the game.

It was the 2nd save of the season for Rivera and 610th of his career. His 2012 season ERA now stands at 3.00

According to a post on the Yankees Facebook page, a fan named Paul Sorber has played air guitar every time that Mariano Rivera has entered a game (presumably home games, right?) since 1999.

Mariano Rivera and Mariano Rivera, Jr. are featured on the cover of today's New York Daily News, which you can check out below and should be able to purchase online. The accompanying story is on their website.


Thank you to nycjobs for the tip.

Prior to Sunday's game between the Yankees and Tigers, Detroit presented Mariano Rivera with a gift, a plaque featuring pictures of Rivera pitching at both Tiger Stadium and Comerica Park, with bottles of dirty from each stadium's pitching mound.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland appeared on field with Rivera to introduce a video tribute before giving the Yankees closer the plaque.

"I've gone on record as saying that I think he's the best of all time," Leyland said, according to James Schmehl. "I'm not looking for arguments with people to compare guys. I know in my time that he's been the best that I've seen."