Yankees' Rivera still the ultimate closer

NEW YORK - Yankees manager Joe Girardi called for his closer, Mariano Rivera, with five outs remaining last night.

Rivera jogged from the bullpen, clutching - not wearing - his glove.

The Yankee Stadium crowd, watching a collage of Rivera highlights, stood and clapped in unison as Metallica's "Enter Sandman" blasted in their ears.

What the crowd sensed, as it always senses when Rivera enters, is victory nearing.

Last night, that victory was seven batters away. Rivera retired five of them.

Last night in Game 6 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, Rivera pitched a scoreless 12/3 innings in the 7-3 victory, essentially slamming shut the door on the already reeling Phillies.

"It's amazing," Rivera said afterward, soaked in champagne. "You can't explain it. It's wonderful. It's special. I think it's crazy. You fight for this moment since spring training, and the organization gives us tremendous talent to put on the field."

Near game's end, it was Rivera jogging to the mound as the game's closer with a stadium sure of his abilities, confident he would do what a closer does: close.

This season, the Phillies had no such enforcer.

Last season's guy, Brad Lidge, wasn't the same. In Game 4 of this series, when the Phillies looked as if they might tie it at two games apiece, Lidge allowed three runs in the ninth, allowing the Yankees to take command of the series.

Last night, when Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to bring the score to 7-3, time seemed running out quickly for the Phillies, because outs against the Yankees are not measured in nine innings but rather until Rivera is called from the bullpen, from out of his warm-up jacket and onto the mound.

In 87 postseason games, Rivera has an 8-1 record, 0.75 ERA, and 39 saves. In this World Series, he pitched 51/3 scoreless innings and extended his World Series scoreless innings streak to 91/3 innings.

For the sixth time in his career, Rivera was the Yankees' finishing World Series pitcher.

For his efforts last night, Rivera earned no save.

Last night, Rivera, as he's done for nearly all of his 14-year career, threw fire. He wasn't unhittable, but nearly so. Except for a two-out double by Raul Ibanez in the eighth inning and a walk to Carlos Ruiz in the ninth, Rivera retired all who stepped to the plate.

Rivera's final challenge was Phillies centerfielder Shane Victorino, who fended off fastball after fastball, finally working the count to full. On that full-count pitch, Rivera forced Victorino to tap a dribbler to second base, the final out in the 2009 season for both the Phillies and Yankees.

Standing on the podium after the game, Rivera told the crowd that he didn't want to retire, that he wanted to remain a Yankee.

"They don't want me to retire," Rivera said later. "So I stay here."

Through a crowd on the infield, Rivera walked from the podium toward the clubhouse, being ushered off the field and toward the underground celebration.

He stopped only once, answering a question for a Spanish-speaking television crew.

As he passed the Yankees' dugout, at the top of the steps, Spike Lee, famous movie director and famous Yankee fan, caught Rivera's eye.

Lee brought both hands to his heart and mouthed to Rivera, "Thank you, thank you."

Rivera nodded and descended the steps.

Here is a list of the most career postseason saves.   (x-active)

Pitcher   Saves   Innings   

1. x-Mariano Rivera   39    133.1

2. x-Brad Lidge   16   39.1

3. Dennis Eckersley   15   36.0

4. x-Jason Isringhausen   11   26.2

4. Robb Nen   11   20.0

6. Mark Wohlers   10   38.1

7. Rollie Fingers   9   57.1

8. Rich Gossage   8   31.1

8. Randy Myers   8   30.2

10. x-Jonathan Papelbon   7   27.0

10. John Wetteland   7   18.2

10. x-Troy Percival   7   9.2

- Associated Press

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