Three saves against the Cardinals are among the career total for the Yankees’ Mariano Rivera, major league baseball’s all-time leader at 652.
In his only three regular-season appearances against the Cardinals, Rivera was at the height of his dominance. He faced 10 batters over 3.1 total innings and only one reached base. Rivera earned saves in all three appearances.
_ Yankees 5, Cardinals 2, June 13, 2003, at New York: It was a postseason-like atmosphere before a Friday night crowd of 55,214 at Yankee Stadium as Rivera entered in the ninth, looking to save the 300th career win for Roger Clemens.
Rivera struck out Orlando Palmeiro and retired Kerry Robinson and Miguel Cairo on groundouts. Boxscore
“I was really happy to go out there and save that game for Clemens,” Rivera told MLB.com. “I wanted to be a part of that … It was a huge game for Roger and for us.”
_ Yankees 5, Cardinals 2, June 15, 2003, at New York: Rivera threw three pitches in the ninth inning to earn the save and give the Yankees a three-game sweep on a Sunday afternoon before 54,797 at Yankee Stadium.
Rivera hit Albert Pujols with a pitch to open the ninth. Ex-Yankee Tino Martinez grounded into a double play and Jim Edmonds, batting for Wilson Delgado, grounded out to second. Boxscore
_ Yankees 5, Cardinals 0, June 11, 2005, at St. Louis: With New York leading 4-0 in the eighth, St. Louis had runners on second and third with two outs when Rivera relieved Tom Gordon. After Larry Walker worked the count to 3-and-2, Rivera delivered a 94 mph fastball on the outside corner. Walker took the called third strike, ending the Cardinals’ threat.
In the ninth, Pujols popped out to first, and Rivera struck out Reggie Sanders and Mark Grudzielanek, preserving the win for Randy Johnson before 50,177 on a Saturday afternoon at Busch Stadium. Boxscore
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