PHILADELPHIA — Joe Girardi wasn’t going to use Mariano Rivera for two innings last night in Game 3 of the World Series against the Phillies, but the manager didn’t commit to limiting his closer to three outs.
As it turned out in the 8-5 Yankees’ victory, Girardi used Rivera for the final two outs.
“I have to see how he is,” Girardi said before the game of Rivera, who worked two frames in the ALCS clincher last Sunday against the Angels and two in Game 2 of the World Series Thursday.
Rivera said he was ready to throw two innings in every game.
“We are talking about the World Series, you are not talking about just a regular game during the regular season,” said Rivera, whose 39 postseason saves are the record. “It’s not time to rest, it’s not time to feel bad or injured or something like that.”
Joba Chamberlain’s perfect seventh was matched by Damaso Marte’s eighth, but after Hughes got the first out of the ninth, Carlos Ruiz homered and Girardi went for Rivera.
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Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who boasted before the start of the Fall Classic that the Phillies would win the series is five games, offered a revised prediction after the Yankees took a 2-1 lead.
“Phillies in 6,” Rollins said.
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Alex Rodriguez‘ fourth-inning, two-run homer established a Yankees record for longballs in a postseason. It was the 17th homer by the team this October, one more than the Yankees hit in 1996, 2001 and 2003.
It was Rodriguez’ sixth homer this postseason, tying him with Bernie Williams (1996) for the most by a Yankee.
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Even though Chad Gaudin is still in the mix to start Game 5 tomorrow night — the favorite is A.J. Burnett on short rest — Girardi said if the situation arose last night or tonight in Game 4 he would use the right-hander in relief.
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Girardi never really considered starting Hideki Matsui in the outfield last night. And nothing he saw during Friday’s workout changed his mind. So, without the DH being used, Girardi removed a very productive bat from the lineup.
“We watched him [Friday] and we don’t think he is an eight or nine-inning guy out there,” Girardi said.
Girardi pinch-hit Matsui in the eighth inning and Matsui hit an opposite-field homer to left.
“You are going to try and use him in the best opportunity,” Girardi said.