BOSTON — Rafael Soriano didn’t know what his exact statistics were against Adrian Gonzalez, but he was aware of one number: the Red Sox first baseman had never gotten a hit off the Yankees closer.
”Yeah, I knew that,” Soriano said.
So it wasn’t too much of a surprise when manager Joe Girardi called on Soriano to get his first four-out save in nearly five years in last night’s 10-8 win over the Red Sox.
Once again, Soriano beat Gonzalez, getting him to ground a 3-1 sinker to Mark Teixeira at first. The right-hander then retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his 20th save in 21 chances.
”He’s been tremendous,” Derek Jeter said of the right-hander.
Rarely has Soriano been better than last night, when the Yankees seemed determined to keep inviting the Red Sox back into the game. They blew a 5-0 lead in the first inning and came close to surrendering what was a three-run lead late in the game.
Girardi brought Soriano into the game with two outs in the eighth after David Robertson gave up a single to David Ortiz and walked Cody Ross on four pitches.
Soriano had to face Gonzalez, who has struggled this season, but had three hits last night. After last night’s groundout, Gonzalez is now 0-for-9 with a walk and four strikeouts against Soriano.
”I wish I could have gotten under it,” Gonzalez said. “It would have been a double.”
The four-out save was familiar to Soriano, even if Gonzalez isn’t.
“It’s important to be ready, no matter who it is,” Soriano said. “I’ve done it before.”
True, but not since August 29, 2007, when he was with the Braves. Girardi has been reluctant to bring Soriano in for more than one inning, but wasn’t worried about the rest of this series last night.
”For the most part, I did what I had to do to win this ballgame,” the manager said.
If that required Soriano throwing 22 pitches with a day-night doubleheader staring at the Yankees today, so be it.
Soriano was able to avoid any drama in the ninth, striking out Jarrod Saltalamacchia, getting Mauro Gomez to fly out to center and striking out Mike Aviles looking to end it.
”We saw last time we were here how many runs can be scored,” Soriano said of the Yankees’ rally from 9-0 down to win 15-9 in April. “It happens.”
Not last night.