The Yankees fought back to take the lead at 6-5 but the great Mariano Rivera just did not have it on Saturday night in Texas.

He faced Vladimir Guerrero to start the inning and he kept trying to keep the ball inside and eventually walked him. Guerrero had singled the night before off Rivera on a cutter outside. Esteban German was inserted to run for Guerrero and on a pitch to Nelson Cruz he took off and Cruz blooped a single to right center to put runners on first and third with no outs.

Ian Kinsler grounded a double down the third base line and Rivera blew his third save of the season. With runners on second and third and still no one out the Yankees decided to intentionally walk Davis to load the bases. Blanco popped out for the first out and Jeff Francouer was next. Rivera tried to get way inside and ending up hitting Francouer with the pitch to force the winning run home and hang another loss on the Yankees at 7-6.

With the loss and a Tampa win, the Yankee lead in the A.L. East is now only 1/2 game. As I am writing this the Yankees lost again this afternoon as Cliff Lee was awesome into the ninth. Toronto won on a two run walk off home run over Tampa so the Yankees are still in first.

For Rivera, he has 29 saves in 32 save opportunities. His 2010 season ERA now stands at 1.36.

The Yankees now go to Tampa to face off in a pennant show down with the Rays with two Cy Young candidates on the bump. CC Sabathia again tries for his 20th win going against Tampa phenom David Price.

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