Mariano Rivera’s all-time record saves total is stuck at 651 after an odd scoring decision Thursday night in Baltimore.
Rivera came in with the Yankees ahead 6-5 in the ninth and closed out the Orioles 1-2-3 to secure a crucial Yankees victory. But Rivera got the win instead of the save because the official scorer ruled David Robertson – the pitcher of record – didn’t deserve it after blowing a three-run lead in the eighth.
The scorer, Mark Jacobson, ruled Robertson made a “brief and ineffective” appearance.
For those of you not familiar, Rule 10.17(c) in the MLB rule book states:
“The official scorer shall not credit as the winning pitcher a relief pitcher who is ineffective in a brief appearance, when at least one succeeding relief pitcher pitches effectively in helping his team maintain its lead. In such a case, the official scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher the succeeding relief pitcher who was most effective, in the judgment of the official scorer.”
Robertson was charged with four hits and three runs in his one inning of work, interesting in light of the comment attached to Rule 10.17(c): “The official scorer generally should, but is not required to, consider the appearance of a relief pitcher to be ineffective and brief if such relief pitcher pitches less than one inning and allows two or more earned runs to score (even if such runs are charged to a previous pitcher).”