Mariano Rivera Highlights

(Mike Lupica, NY Daily News): "Girardi was long gone by then and so was Joba Chamberlain, who gave the Yankees six solid innings even if he got sloppy in the fifth and gift-wrapped three runs for the Red Sox.

• Mo Rivera, who had pitched two more innings on this night, he was gone. Mo's big moment this time was when he struck out Manny Ramirez, pinch-hitting in the top of the ninth with the go-ahead run on third and two outs.

• It was supposed to be pretty good,

• the greatest closer of all time against one of the great righthanded hitters of all time.

Except it was "no mas" from Manny of Washington Heights all the way.

Strike one, looking.

Strike two, looking.

Strike three.

Looking.

• Ramirez never took the bat off his shoulder and Rivera got the Yankees through the top of the 10th and now it was the bottom of the 10th."....
  

From NY Daily News column by Mike Lupica, "Nothing Rivals Some Late Fireworks from Brett Gardner," 7/7/08

Big meeting on the mound before Manny's at bat, Arod giving Molina a pep talk.

Top of the 10th, tie game, Rivera's second inning, go-ahead run in scoring position.

But Manny apparently had no intention of swinging.