Mariano Rivera did it again on Wednesday evening in Minnesota. After securing a save in the completion of the Tuesday night suspended contest, Mo came back in the regularly scheduled game and converted his 10th save of the season.
Andy Pettitte and Francisco Liriano both pitched beautifully. The Twins took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single from Joe Mauer. The Yankees tied it when Francisco Cervelli was able to beat out a potential double play grounder and scored on a double from rookie Kevin Russo. The Yankees went ahead 2-1 on a triple from Brett Gardner.
In looked like the Twins would take the lead in the eighth inning. Butera started the inning with a double to right center. The ball hit in the pocket of Gardner's glove and popped out. Denard Span attempted to sacrifice but A-Rod bobbled his bunt attempt and the Twins had runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs. Andy Pettitte was able to glove a line drive from the next batter with the runners staying put and the stage was set for Joe Mauer to try and put the Twins ahead. Pettitte had struck Mauer out in the previous at bat and this time it was even better. Mauer hit the ball hard toward short and Jeter and Cano turned it into an inning ending double play.
In the top of the ninth, Gardner and Jeter were retired quickly by Twins closer Jon Rauch but Nick Swisher bombed a home run deep to right field to give the Yankees the lead at 3-2.
In the ninth, Pettitte took the mound but it was just a stall tactic to give Mo more time to warm up. The Sandman entered and he got Justin Morneau on a hump back liner which Jeter got on a bounce around second and threw him out for the first out. Michael Cuddyer battled to a 3-2 count but also grounded to Jeter and then Delmon Young hit the second pitch to A-Rod on the ground and he threw Young out to end the game.
The save for Rivera was his 10th of the season in 11 save opportunities and the 536th of his career. His season ERA now stands at 1.76.
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moises Young Diaz wrote: