Yankee Victory Doesn’t Ease Concerns

Even after an exciting July win over their top rivals, the New York Yankees were worrying about the player who might make the biggest difference come October--Mariano Rivera.

After watching Rivera walk off the mound with tightness in his right shoulder after only six pitches, the Yankees rallied to beat the Boston Red Sox, 9-8, in 11 innings Saturday.

Robin Ventura’s one-out roller drove in the winning run. But by the time Alfonso Soriano crossed home plate, the Yankees already were focusing on their All-Star closer.

“There’s no question it’s a matter of concern,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said.

“But this is not something new with Mo. He’s had this before and usually been able to work through it.”

Rivera was optimistic, for now.

“I’ll be all right, I think,” he said. “They’ll decide tomorrow what we’re going to do. I don’t know what. They haven’t told me yet.

“No pain, just tight. I have had this before.”

On what was looking like a lost afternoon for the Yankees as a late lead disappeared after Rivera left in the eighth, they rebounded to end Boston’s four-game winning streak.

A sellout crowd of 55,526 that took turns shouting for the AL East rivals for more than four hours saw the Yankees load the bases in the 11th. Soriano led off with a double against Wayne Gomes (1-2), Derek Jeter was intentionally walked, Enrique Wilson sacrificed and Bernie Williams was intentionally walked.

That brought up Ventura, one of the best bases-loaded hitters ever--a .354 average with 15 grand slams in such situations--and he hit a slow grounder in the hole to the right side that second baseman Rey Sanchez fielded. But Sanchez had no chance to turn a double play and instead threw home, and Soriano easily beat it.

Before the game, Yankee outfielder Raul Mondesi returned to the hospital because of a recurrence of chest pains. A CT scan was negative, but he did not play in the game.