Rivera Blows Save, but Jeter, Yankees Bounce Back in the Ninth
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Melky Cabrera raced home on Derek Jeter’s grounder in the ninth inning to lift the Yankees to a 7–6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles last night.
Baltimore tied it in the top of the ninth against Mariano Rivera but couldn’t stop streaking New York, which has won four straight and nine of 10.
Chad Bradford (1–5) hit Cabrera with a pitch with one out and pinch-hitter Jason Giambi then singled to right, advancing the speedy center fielder to third. Jeter followed with an infield tapper that Bradford couldn’t bring in. Second baseman Brian Roberts rushed in to pick up the ball but Cabrera was already crossing home.
Bobby Abreu and Wilson Betemit homered for New York, which stayed within four of AL Eastleading Boston.
Rivera (3–3) had converted 19 straight save opportunities but Melvin Mora led off the ninth with a single and advanced to second on Ramon Hernandez’s ground-out. Mora tried to score on Tike Redman’s soft single to center but Cabrera easily threw him out at home.
Given another chance, Rivera still couldn’t hold on. Redman went to second on the throw to the plate and raced around to score on Brian Roberts’ single to right, sliding in to beat Bobby Abreu’s high throw home and tie it at 6.
