Almost perfect

Mariano Rivera, of course, had been just that coming into Tuesday's night's game here -- 7-for-7 in save opportunities and having not allowed a run.

That streak ended in the Yankees' 6-5 loss in 10 innings, a game featuring Rivera's first blown save of the season in the ninth when he couldn't hold a 5-3 lead.

"You don't want that to happen, especially when the team gives you a two-run lead," Rivera said. 

In the ninth, Yunel Escobar lined a leadoff double to straightaway center, and with one out he scored from third on a wild pitch as Jose Bautista walked. Rivera had no wild pitches last year and has just 13 in his career, counting last night.

“I held the ball too long,” Rivera said. “I was upset at that one. Situations like that, you cannot do that. I didn’t mean to do that, but it happened and I think I have control of that.”

Rivera said when he came on for the ninth, he felt about the same way he did the previous seven times he came in to close games this season.

“Going in there I had it in mind everything was going to be fine,” Rivera said. “I wasn’t good today…I think the guys did tremendous today and this is my fault."

For Joe Girardi, it wasn't a game to make too much of.

"It happens," Girardi said. "We see it from time to time. You never know when you're going to see it. You don't expect to see it but it does happen from time to time. But we'll bounce back and I know Mo will bounce back."