The Sandman bent a little on Sunday afternoon in the Bronx but did not break. Randy Johnson was brilliant for seven innings but tweaked his knee on a pitch to the final batter of the inning.

Tom Gordon started the eighth by giving up a single to Graffanino. Adam Stern entered to pinch run. Mirabelli then hit a pop up to the infield which landed around the mound and A-Rod was able to force Stern at second on a play which looked disastrous. Mueller was then retired and the Sox sent up Yankees killer David Ortiz to pinch hit. Torre responded by calling to the bullpen and Enter Sandman.

Rivera battled Ortiz but did not give him anything good to hit and walked him to put the go ahead run on. Damon was up next and he battled Mo but eventually grounded to Giambi at first to end the inning.

The Yankees were retired in order by Wakefield who pitched a gem with twelve strikeouts but ended up on the losing side with the only run coming on a Giambi homer.

In the ninth, Renteria led off with a line shot up the middle but Mo snagged it for the first out. Trot Nixon pinch hit and grounded sharply to Andy Phillips at first for the second out. The only thing that remained between a Yankees win was retiring Boston slugger Manny Ramirez. Rivera was careful and walked him. Kevin Millar followed with a single to right center chasing Ramirez to third. Up next was hot hitting John Olerud who Rivera struck out swinging to end the game.

The Yankees won the game 1-0 with Randy Johnson getting his 260th career victory. For Rivera it was his 37th save of the season and 373rd of his career. His season ERA now stands at 1.44.

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