NOW THAT SAVE number 602 is behind him, Mariano Rivera is happy to step back out of the spotlight and work on another big number: six.
Despite five World Series championships in 17 seasons with the New York Yankees, Rivera has never come to enjoy individual attention.
“You know me, I’m not like that,” Rivera said. “I like to be under the radar, do my job.”
There was no chance of that yesterday afternoon, when the smallest crowd in the three-year history of Yankee Stadium nearly drowned out Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” as Rivera came in for the ninth inning.
They hollered with every pitch — and there weren’t many of them. Rivera retired the Twins’ Trevor Plouffe, Michael Cuddyer and Chris Parmelee to end the Yankees’ 6-4 win over Minnesota and break Trevor Hoffman’s mark.
Rivera even broke a bat for good measure — sawing off Parmelee and sending the rookie back to the dugout for another piece of wood.
Parmelee lasted only one more pitch. Plate umpire John Hirschbeck rung him up, and catcher Russell Martin came out to the mound, gently placed the ball in Rivera’s glove, then gave him a big hug.
Rivera stayed and accepted congratulations — Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and finally Derek Jeter came over before the bullpen and bench got there. The Twins watched from their dugout.
Rivera tried to walk off the field with the rest of the Yankees, but longtime teammate Jorge Posada pushed him, laughing, onto the mound, where fans cheered him once again.
Never comfortable in the spotlight, Rivera didn’t know quite what to do.
He proved equal to the moment yet again. Rivera smiled, blew a kiss to the crowd, and then doffed his cap as cheers washed over him.
“For the first time in my career, I’m on the mound alone,” Rivera said.
It was priceless. I didn’t know it could be like that.
– Rick Freeman
