07/31: Cano's Ninth Inning Blast Sets Up Rivera for Save

Posted by: David
The Yankees used the long ball on Saturday night in Florida. Robinson Cano got the biggest one off of Rays closer Rafael Soriano in the top of the ninth inning to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead and set up Mariano Rivera for his 22nd save of the season.

The Rays jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning off of Javy Vazquez. The Yankees tied the score on a sacrifice fly from Curtis Granderson.

The Rays added two more runs until Mark Texeira tied the score with a two run bomb. However, the Rays came right back with last night's hero Matt Joyce connecting again to right to give Tampa a one run lead at 4-3.

Nick Swisher then tied the game as he got a hanging curve ball from Matt Garza and hit it just high enough to clear the fence and tie the score.

Vazquez gave up a one out walk in the seventh and gave way to Boone Logan who got out John Jaso and Carl Crawford. David Robertson pitched an impressive eighth inning and that set up Cano for the ninth.

Cano's blast came after A-Rod popped out and again missed an opportunity to hit his 600th career home run.

Rivera came in for the bottom of the ninth and struck out Sean Rodriguez and then induced B.J. Upton to ground out to Jeter for the second out. Willy Aybar broke his bat when he got jammed with the cutter but managed to loop the ball just over Cano's head for a single. Mo then got Jason Bartlett to ground into a force play to end the game.

The save for Rivera is his 22nd in 24 save opportunities and the 548th of his career. His 2010 season ERA now stands at 0.93.

With the win the Yankees ensure that they leave Tampa in first place as tonight's win extends their lead to two games. In tomorrow's finale CC Sabathia goes up against James Shields.

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