MANHATTAN — Revered Yankees closer Mariano “The Sandman” Rivera put the MLB’s all-time saves record to sleep on Monday, securing victory for the 602nd time in his career.
Rivera accomplished the feat by retiring three batters in a row during the ninth inning of the Yankees home game against the Minnesota Twins, surpassing the previous record-holder Trevor Hoffman, MLB.com noted.
“I can't describe that feeling,” the 41-year-old American League All-star told the website. “It was priceless.”
Rivera, a Panama native and career Yankee, was swarmed by cheering teammates, including a beaming Derek Jeter, after striking out the final batter.
“It's a number that I really don't think we'll see surpassed in our lifetime,” Yankees manager and former catcher Joe Girardi predicted after the historic game, according to MLB.com.
The 6-4 win marked Rivera’s 43rd save of the season, and brought the Bronx Bombers within four games of clinching a spot in the playoffs.
This is Rivera’s seventh season with more than 40 saves, which leaves him just one 40-plus season away from matching Hoffman’s eight-season record, according to MLB.com.
