Mariano Rivera threw out last night’s ceremonial first pitch and though the Yankees would certainly like to have him around to close games, they showed again they are able to survive without him — at least for now.
Boone Logan, Rafael Soriano and David Robertson combined to throw 3 2/3 scoreless innings in a 3-2, 12-inning win over the Orioles to take a 2-1 series lead in the ALDS.
“There were a lot of emotions,” Rivera said of being back on the field, throwing a pitch in The Bronx for the first time since he went down in May with a torn ACL in his right knee. “But what a great game. Thank God Raul [Ibanez] is on our side.”
Rivera sat on the bench during the game and told Alex Rodriguez that Ibanez, pinch hitting for the third baseman, would hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth. Ibanez delivered in that at-bat and his next one.
But the closer was equally impressed with the bullpen, including Soriano.
“He did good the whole year,” Rivera said. “All the guys showed tonight, too, they could do it.”
“The bullpen has been great all year,” Russell Martin said. “Joe [Girardi] kept them fresh and I think that is paying off now.”
Soriano tossed 1 1/3 innings before giving way to Robertson, who tossed two more and earned the win.
“It’s exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time,” Robertson said. “You can’t make any mistakes because that can cost you the game. You try to calm yourself down, because if you make one mistake, you see what happens.”
Baltimore closer Jim Johnson and lefty reliever Brian Matusz found that out the hard way, each allowing homers to Ibanez.
Despite the win, Rivera said it was strange not having any control of a game — something that hasn’t happened in a Yankees postseason since 1981.
“I was just part of the team, supporting the guys,” Rivera said. “That’s all I can do.”
When asked if throwing the pitch made him think about next season, Rivera laughed and said: “Not right now.”