It looked early like it wouldn't be an evening where Mo was needed, but how quickly things changed. Ian Kennedy was sailing along into the seventh with a 7-2 lead but was hit by a line drive and left the game. He was relieved by Billy Traber and he surrendered a two run homer to Carl Crawford to make the score 7-4. Brian Bruney releived Traber and gave up a two run homer to B.J. Upton and a tying home run to Evan Longoria and a sleeper turned into a nail biter.
Robinson Cano was rested but pinch hit in the 8th for Alberto Gonzales and hit a long home run to right to give the Yankees the lead at 8-7. Bruney remained in the game in the 8th and got the first two outs but the last out he got was a fly ball to the warning track in left and Girardi then summoned the Sandman.
Mo made quick work of Iwamura by having him fly to left on the second pitch to end the 8th inning. In the 9th, he had to face the Rays three best hitters and he was simply awesome again. He struck out speedster Carl Crawford for the first out. Carlos Pena then grounded to second and it was left up to B.J. Upton. Upton battled, but struck out swinging to end the game.
For Rivera, it was his 4th save of the season in as many save opportunities and the 447th save of his career. His season ERA remains at 0.00.
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