Rivera notches 500th save

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Rivera notches 500th save
Closer becomes just second to reach milestone
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
06/28/09

NEW YORK -- Mariano Rivera became just the second member of baseball's prestigious 500-save club on Sunday, getting four outs to preserve a 4-2 Yankees victory in a sweep of the Mets at Citi Field.

Rivera was summoned in the eighth inning after Chien-Ming Wang went 5 1/3 innings and the bullpen brought the Yankees close to a series sweep of their cross-town rivals.

He answered the call, striking out Omir Santos looking to strand two Mets aboard in the eighth -- and working a bases-loaded, full-count walk in the ninth against fellow closer Francisco Rodriguez -- before setting down the side in the ninth, locking down his 18th save in 19 opportunities this season to reach the round "500" number.

"I don't look for records or things like that," Rivera said before the game. "I'm not here for that. I'm here to play baseball and win World Series. If it happens, it happens. But I don't come here to chase records."

The 500 saves -- all accomplished on the strength of Rivera's trademark cut fastball -- are the most in American League history and second all-time only to Trevor Hoffman, who has recorded 571 and claims the all-time lead since became an official statistic in 1969.

"I think it's an amazing milestone," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said before Sunday's game. "What he's been able to accomplish during the regular season, during the postseason -- he's a remarkable pitcher. To think that he's done it with one pitch is even harder to imagine."

A nine-time American League All-Star, the 39-year-old Rivera has been the Yankees' closer since 1997, when he assumed the job after serving as a setup man to John Wetteland in helping the club win the first of four World Series titles within a five-year span.

"The quicker I finish, the quicker I can go home," Rivera said. "All these guys have been here for so many hours, and when we get to the last inning, they want to go home. I don't want to waste their time."

500 ... and counting

With his 500th save -- all with the Yankees -- Mariano Rivera ranks second on the all-time list behind Trevor Hoffman, who recorded 554 of his saves with the Padres.

Rank Pitcher Saves ERA Most First
1. T. Hoffman 571 2.76 Padres 1993
2. M. Rivera 500 2.31 Yankees 1996
3. L. Smith 478 3.03 Cubs 1981
4. J. Franco 424 2.89 Mets 1984
5. D. Eckersley 390 3.50 A's 1975
6. B. Wagner 385 2.40 Astros 1996
7. J. Reardon 367 3.16 Expos 1979
8. T. Percival 358 3.17 Angels 1995
9. R. Myers 347 3.19 Cubs 1987
10. R. Fingers 341 2.90 A's 1969

As Rivera recounted on Sunday, he was first informed of his future during the 1996-97 offseason, when former manager Joe Torre called him at home in Panama and told him that he would be the closer upon reporting to Spring Training that season.

Rivera was in position for the milestone after securing a four-run lead on Thursday at Atlanta, throwing six pitches and recording the final out in save No. 499, one day after he struck out all four batters he faced for the first time in his career.

"I'm proud of what I have done with the team," Rivera said. "I'm proud of my teammates. I'm proud of everything we have accomplished. Every time I have the chance to wear this uniform, I'm proud."

Also the Major League leader with 34 career postseason saves, Rivera is the all-time leader in Interleague saves with 58. Since blowing a save on July 14, 2001, at Florida, Rivera has converted 33 of his last 34 opportunities against National League clubs, including each of his last 14.

Since Rivera logged his first save on May 17, 1996, 101 of his 500 saves have come in the month of June, his highest total in any month. 261 have come in Yankees road games.

Rivera had arthroscopic surgery after last season to shave down an AC joint in his right shoulder. He was among the Major Leagues' best closers in 2008, posting the lowest ERA (1.40) among hurlers with at least 70 innings pitched.

Restoring velocity quickly and rebounding from that procedure well and still providing the Yankees with a quality option in the late innings, Rivera said that he does not know how much longer he will continue pitching.

"Until God wants me to," Rivera said. "I have a contract for another year. I don't know what's going to happen after that. I feel good, so I don't know what's going to happen."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com.