MINNEAPOLIS — Cy Young got the best of MVP.
You certainly can make a case for Mariano Rivera and Joe Mauer to win those respective awards in the American League. Here they were in last night’s eighth inning going head-to-head with Game 3 of the ALDS hanging in the balance.
The Yankees led 2-1, with the potential tying run — Denard Span — standing at first base. Rivera replaced Phil Hughes and got Mauer on a broken-bat grounder to Mark Teixeira, ending the inning.
“I know Joe Mauer is a great hitter, but Mo is more experienced in that situation,” manager Joe Girardi said after the Yankees beat the Twins 4-1. “That’s why I didn’t [hesitate]. He has been doing it since 1996. When I saw him burst on the scene, I was behind home plate. I just thought it was time to go to Mo.”
The Yankees padded their lead with two runs in the ninth. Rivera returned to pitch the bottom of the inning and retired three of the four batters he faced, allowing a single to Michael Cuddyer.
“It’s a great baseball team,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “They deserve all the accolades — they have got a great bullpen. They have got the whole deal.”