Mariano Rivera blows save in three straight games for first time in career
Mariano Rivera reacts after giving up a solo home run to the Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera in the ninth inning of a game at Yankee Stadium. (Aug. 11, 2013) Credit: Mike Stobe
More often than not, seeing Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning means game over. But not on Sunday.
For the first time in his career, Rivera blew a save in his third straight games. The Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez hit back-to-back home runs off Rivera to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the ninth Sunday.
But for the second time in three games Brett Gardner came to the rescue, hitting a walk-off home run to give the Yankees a 5-4 win.
The Yankees also managed to walk away with the win in a wild finish Friday in 10 innings against the Tigers after Rivera blew the save by letting up another home run by Miguel Cabrera, this one a two-run shot that also scored Austin Jackson. Brett Gardner was the hero again as he hit a walk-off single in the 10th to get Rivera off the hook for the loss.
No one saved Rivera Wednesday, though, against the White Sox. The Yankees led 4-3 in the ninth inning when they handed the ball to Mo. After Gordon Beckham doubled to deep right-centerfield, Adam Dunn hit a pinch-hit single to tie the game at 4-4.
Robinson Cano hit a go-ahead home run off Dylan Axelrod in top of the 12th to give the Yanks a 5-4 lead, but they weren't able to hold on. With two outs, Tyler Flowers reach on an infield single that Adam Warren deflected. If he hadn't, Cano probably would've been able to field and flip to first for the final out. Flowers then adavnced to third on an Alexei Ramirez single to center. Alejandro De Aza drove in both for the game-winning runs on a triple to centerfield.
