Monday, June 29, 2009

Rivera Records 500th Save; Gaudin's 1-Hitter Halts Texas

Players of the Day for Sunday, June 28, 2009 American League The Yankees completed their sweep of the crosstown rival Mets with a 4-2 victory at City Field Sunday night. While the game itself was rather mundane, there was an important milestone reached by closer Mariano Rivera, who recored his 500th career save with a 4-out, 1-hit effort to seal the win. Rivera became just the second pitcher to reach the 500 mark, and the first in the American League. Trevor Hoffman, the all-time saves leader, cracked the mark in 2007 and has 571 as of today. Rivera also managed to drive in an insurance run in the top of the 9th, taking a base on balls with the bases loaded, forcing in Melky Cabrera. Rivera is having his usual solid season, with 18 saves, 2.93 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. National League There hasn't been a no-hitter thrown this season, but San Diego starter Chad Gaudin came pretty close, tossing a one-hitter over 8 innings in a 2-0 Padres' win over Texas. There was no indication that Gaudin (4-6) was about to uncork his best effort of the season, especially after allowing a one-out walk to David Murphy and a single by Michael Young in the first inning. Once out of that mini-jam, Gaudin was nails, giving up just one more walk and no hits while fanning 9 over the next 7 innings. He gave way to closer Heath Bell in the 9th, who picked up his 21st save. Gaudin may be showing signs of coming around, even if his Padres are mired near the bottom of the NL West. His prior outing was also a strong effort, when he picked up a win at Seattle, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs over 7 innings while striking out 11.

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