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Rivera closes out the Phillies
Rivera closes out the Phillies
NEW YORK - Mariano Rivera looms at the end of a baseball game like the final opponent in a video game: As its enforcer.
Wednesday night in Game 6 of the World Series, Rivera was exactly that.
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. chats with actor Jeremy Piven prior to Game 6 of the 2009 World Series at Yankee Stadium Nov. 4, 2009. ( Steven M. Falk / Staff Photographer )
Rivera pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 innings, essentially slamming shut the door on the already reeling Phillies.
Near the end of the 7-3 Yankees victory, it was Rivera jogging to the mound as the game's closer with a stadium seemingly 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, hasn't been 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 inning.
When Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to bring the score to 7-3, time still seemed to be running out quickly for the Phillies. For outs against the Yankees are not measured in nine innings but rather until Rivera is called from the bullpen, from out of his warmup jacket and onto the mound.
Wednesday 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 eight 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 hit a soft dribbler to second base, the final out in the 2009 season for both the Phillies and Yankees.
In 87 postseason games, Rivera has an 8-1 record, 0.75 ERA and 39 saves. For his efforts Wednesday night, Rivera earned no save.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi called for Rivera with five outs remaining. Rivera jogged from the bullpen, clutching – not holding – his glove.
The Yankee Stadium crowd, while watching a collage of Rivera highlights, stood and clapped in unison.
What they sensed, as they always sense when Rivera enters, is victory nearing.
Wednesday night that victory was seven batters, five of whom Rivera retired, away.
Contact staff writer Kate Fagan at 856-779-3844 or kfagan@phillynews.com.
