The Yankees rolled out their best possible setup option for last night’s eighth inning.
Mariano Rivera working double-time still trumps all other options. Here came Rivera for the eighth and ninth, and there went the Phillies’ chances of heading home with a second victory in this World Series.
Rivera gave his team two shutout innings — for his 10th career World Series save in 11 chances — in the Yankees’ 3-1 victory.
The save was Rivera’s third of at least two innings this postseason. It also marked the fifth time this month he was asked to work more than one inning.
Though Rivera threw 39 pitches (his most in a World Series game), manager Joe Girardi said his All-Star closer should be ready for tomorrrow’s Game 3 in Philadelphia.
On their ride to the World Series, the Phillies came from behind to beat Rockies closer Huston Street in the NLDS and Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton in the NLCS. The best they could muster against Rivera was two baserunners in the eighth before Rivera got Chase Utley to hit into an inning-ending double play.
In the ninth, Raul Ibanez blasted a two-out double, putting Rivera in a showdown with Matt Stairs. Rivera went ahead 0-2 in the count, threw two balls and got Stairs to chase a cutter, ending the game.
“They battle — they are tough,” Rivera said. “But you have to battle back.” It certainly went smoother for the Yankees than in Game 1, when Phil Hughes walked the only two batters he faced in the eighth before David Robertson surrendered a two-run single to Ibanez. In the ninth, Brian Bruney allowed two more runs.
“This bullpen that is constructed now has been really good for us all year and at times you are going to have some hiccups,” Girardi said. “But that doesn’t mean that you stop believing in them and understand the type of stuff that they have and the job they can do.”
Nevertheless, Rivera said he’s prepared to record three more two-inning saves in this series.
“If it’s needed, definitely,” he said. “I had an idea tonight that definitely I would have a chance to be there for two innings.”