(AP)
–
Mariano Rivera set the major league record with his 602nd career save, pitching a perfect ninth inning today to preserve the New York Yankees' 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins. With fans standing and cheering from his first pitch to his last, Rivera retired Trevor Plouffe, Michael Cuddyer, and Chris Parmelee to end it. Parmelee looked at strike three—it appeared to be Rivera's signature cutter—as Yankee Stadium roared in approval.
The 41-year-old Rivera tied Trevor Hoffman with save No. 601 on Saturday in Toronto. The Yankees lost yesterday, putting Rivera in line to get the milestone in the Yankees' last homestand of the season. A.J. Burnett didn't make it past the fifth inning, but the Yankees bullpen kept the Twins at bay until Rivera came on in the ninth. As always, the crowd hollered as Rivera came in to the customary strains of "Enter Sandman."
