Mariano Rivera wasn’t needed for seven outs last night. Or even six. He stayed in the bullpen longer and came in later because Joe Girardi wanted Damaso Marte to face the Phillies’ two toughest hitters.
Marte, the Yankees’ suddenly invaluable lefty reliever, was brilliant again in last night’s World Series championship clincher, retiring both batters he faced by strikeout. Oh, and they happened to be Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.
Marte entered in the seventh inning with the Phillies mounting a possible rally. Jimmy Rollins was on second and Shane Victorino was on first with two outs, and Girardi summoned Marte to replace Joba Chamberlain and face Utley.
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Marte proceeded to strike out the Phillies’ star second baseman to end the inning. Then, surprisingly, Girardi didn’t even bring in Rivera to start the eighth inning for a six-out save. He allowed Marte to face the lefty-swinging Howard, and Marte struck him out, too. At that point, Rivera finally entered the game and got the night’s final five outs.
Marte had a simply phenomenal postseason, posting a 0.00 ERA that isn’t even telling enough. Marte retired 12 of the 14 batters he faced in the playoffs, and in fact, he retired the final 12 he faced after allowing two singles to his first two hitters back in ALDS Game 2 against the Twins.
Other than maybe Alex Rodriguez — whose playoff explosion was somewhere between shocking and expected — Marte certainly ranked as the Yankees’ best postseason surprise.