Brad Penner- USA TODAY Sports
Today may be the last time Mariano Rivera faces the Detroit Tigers, and given the past few nights I think he would be okay with that. Mo blew his third straight save and his second straight against the Tigers Sunday afternoon in a shocking turn of events. Miguel Cabrera homered again off Mo to lead off the 9th to pull the score to 4-3. Then after retiring Prince Fielder, Victor Martinez sent an un-cutting cutter into the second deck shocking New York Yankees fans for the second time this weekend.
The Yankees went on to win yet again following a Rivera blown save on a Brett Gardner walk off saving the Yankees from a pair of what would have been destructive losses. But the Tigers have sent fear into Yankees fans about Rivera who has never blown three straight games in his career up until this point. It’s frustrating for the Tigers, who managed to breakthrough on Mo twice this weekend, to still come up empty on the win column, but they can take solace in the fact that they put on a show over the weekend.
No doubt some of the problems reside in Rivera clearly not getting the ball where he wants to, but it can be assured that some of it has to do with the illustrious Miguel Cabrera unfazed by the reputation of Mariano Rivera. The veteran middle of the order for the Tigers seems more than happy to step in the box where most players would already conceded the at bat before it even begins.
There are no words left to describe Miguel Cabrera, but even after his home run you thought for sure it was going to be a close but no cigar situation. When Victor smashed his into the second deck, that is when there was shock on everyone’s faces. The Tigers had once again sunk Mariano Rivera’s battleship. These types of finishes are nothing new between the Yankees and Tigers having numerous playoff thrillers, but it is a first involving the collapse of the game’s best closer.
Someone should tell the Tigers and Miguel Cabrera it’s not very nice to spoil someone’s going away party. It’s a party Mariano Rivera isn’t going to forget for a long time.
Brent Smith is a Detroit Tigers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @brentweets or add him to your network on Google
