Mariano Rivera was not his usual automatic but he held on and got the big outs when he needed to.

Beginning the ninth with an 8-5 lead, Mo shattered the bat of John Jaso, sending a grounder to Mark Teixeira at first for out number one. Ben Zobrist dropped the bat head on an inside cutter and was able to loop it down the right field line and keep it fair as it just hit the chalk before it bounced into the stands for a ground rule double.

Carl Crawford battled and fouled off three 2-2 pitches before grounding out to third for the second out of the inning. Evan Longoria got jammed but fought it off and looped a single over the heads of Cano and Tex for an RBI single. He took second on defensive indifference and the Sandman still needed one out for the save. Dan Johnson was the last hope.

Last week in Tampa, he hit a pair of two run home runs off Phil Hughes which cost Hughes and the Yankees a game. Mo tried to keep the ball outside and got him to 3-2 but then came inside and hit Johnson with the pitch. Rookie speedster Jennings was inserted as a pinch runner for Johnson. Matt Joyce then grounded sharply to Texeira at first to end the game and provide the Yankees an 8-6 win.

The night was very emotional for the Yankees and the entire Yankees organization. The Yankees dedicated a monument to George M. Steinbrenner with his children and grandchildren present for the ceremonies. In attendance were Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson, Joe Torre, Don Mattingly, David Wells, Tino Martinez, Roy White and Gene Michael.

The Yankees jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to a two run shot off the bat of Curtis Granderson on an 2-0 pitch from Matt Garza. They would extend the lead to 4-0 which included an RBI sacrifice fly from A-Rod.

Ivan Nova was cruising again like last week in Tampa and then imploded in the sixth. Jason Bartlett led off with a single and Jaso would follow with another single. Zobrist got on and Crawford reached on catcher's interference for a run. Evan Longoria then hit into a double play and a run scored to make it a 4-2 game. Boone Logan would replace Nova and Johnson would drop a single into center field to make the score 4-3 and the Rays tied the score on a bases loaded walk.

The Yankees would come right back with another four run inning which included an RBI single from Derek Jeter and a huge three run home run from Curtis Granderson high off the foul pole in right to make the score 8-4. The Rays would add a run on a sacrifice fly from Longoria.

The save for Rivera is his 32nd of the season in 36 save opportunities and the 558th of his career. His 2010 season ERA now stands at 1.58. With the win the Yankees now have a 1 1/2 game lead in the AL East. With the Boston loss the magic number to clinch a playoff spot is now at 5.

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