Rivera Holds On...Bearly

YANKEES 2

RED SOX 1

You now it is a tough week for the Yankees, when their closer is not off kilter in two of his apperances. First he lost a game against Texas earlier in the week, and today he was on the brink of losing another one.

Mariano Rivera, the Greates Closer of All - Time, had to show ever inch of his greatness to get out of a nearly impossible jam to preserve a Yankee win.

With New York up 2-0 going into the ninth, Rivera had to be matched up against the bulk of the Red Sox order. And he struggled. First J.D. Drew slapped a single left, later, Rivera hit Manny Ramirez on a 0-1 pitch. It was the third time Ramirez had been hit by a pitch in the game today. Mike Lowell, who was 0 for 3 in the game singled to right to drive in Drew from second. 2-1 Yankees with no one out. Rivera than hit Kevin Youklis to load the bases.

Thankfully, for the Bombers, Big Papi David Ortiz is still injured, becuase with the way Rivera was pitching it would have been a shock if the Yankees didn't come out of the inning trailing 3-2, or tied 2-2.

Coco Crisp came up, and struck out swinging. What do you expect from a lousy hitter like Crisp. Next, in the most critical at-bat of the inning, and the turning point, Rivera got Jason Varitek to pop up to first baseman Wilson Betemit for the second out. Julio Lugo then struck out to end the game.

A thriller for the Yankees, and game they HAD to have if they are to keep their slimming playoff chances alive.

Mike Mussina went six innings, for the win, his eleventh of the year. Brett Gardner and Melky Cabreara drove in the two Yankee runs, early in the ballgame.

BOXSCORE.