While the Boston Red Sox were mathematically eliminating the New York Yankees from winning the American League East with a 9-2 victory Sunday night, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera gave the Red Sox home at Fenway Park a nicer gift.
In between innings, Rivera wrote a thank you message on the visitor's bullpen wall, which was short, simple and effective.
"Mariano Rivera. Last to wear #42. Thank you for everything," Rivera penned on the wall in what could prove to be the retiring closer's last trip to Fenway after a 19-year career barring a postseason meeting between the two teams.
Rivera was honored by the Red Sox organization prior to the game and received a few gifts during the ceremony. One gift was a poem, which possibly inspired Rivera to do a little writing of his own.
Rivera said prior to Sunday's loss, which completed a sweep of the Yankees for Boston, that he hoped it wouldn't be the last time he opposed the Red Sox. Rivera never got a shot against the team and didn't appear in the series.
''Hopefully it's not the last time,'' Rivera told Yahoo Sports. "We're fighting for something. We want to get to the playoffs. I don't have any thinking about myself."
The sweep at the hands of Boston dimmed the Bronx Bombers chances at making a late postseason push, but their hopes aren't completely dashed just yet. The Yankees (79-71) may be eliminated from winning a third consecutive AL East title, but they are just three games behind the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays for a wildcard spot, but would have to jump the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians just to get there.
Through 58.2 innings pitched this year, Rivera has 43 saves, and a 2.30 ERA with 51 strikeouts. Rivera is the all-time saves leader with 651 and also has a career ERA of 2.22 and 1,170 strikeouts. Rivera has 42 saves in the postseason.
Rivera has left many Red Sox hitters and fans frustrated with his confounding ability to close out games strongly over the years, and though he didn't get a chance to do that in his final visit to Fenway Park, he left a message that will be displayed on the wall for years to come.
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