Rivera’s 500th save creates little fuss

NEW YORK (AP) — Mariano Rivera has seen all the histrionics by some closers. It’s fine, he said, because it’s part of their personalities.

Rivera has his own way of celebrating a big save for the Yankees.

“I go home,” he said. “Simple as that. As quick as I finish, I go home.”

Rivera went home Sunday night with his 500th save, getting four outs in a 4-2 victory over the Mets to become the second major leaguer to reach the milestone. He also got his first career RBI with a bases-loaded walk against Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth.

“I don’t know if we’ll ever see another Mariano Rivera,” manager Joe Girardi said. “I really don’t believe we will.”

The 39-year-old reliever’s landmark save featured some of the mettle that has made him so reliable over the years. He threw a called third strike past Omir Santos with runners on first and third to end the eighth, bending his cutter to the inside corner.

Daniel Murphy blooped a two-out single in the ninth, but Rivera retired Alex Cora on a bouncer to second.

“He makes everything so easy,” Rodriguez said, “and I know as a closer it’s not easy, at all.”

Rivera got the ball and a hug from first baseman Mark Teixeira after the final out. Other Yankees soon made their way to the infield near first to congratulate the backbone of four World Series championship teams and 10 division title winners.

“As far as I’m concerned, the success that this organization has had over the last 14 years, he’s probably the biggest reason,” Andy Pettitte said. “I don’t think anybody gives enough credit to how hard it is to close games out.”

Rivera has saved 59 of Pettitte’s 222 wins, a major league record for a closer-starter combo and just one in a slew of staggering numbers from the right-hander’s career. It was his 110th save of four outs or more — an unheard of total with today’s closers rarely required to pitch more than an inning. He has blown just 13 regular-season save chances since 2005 and 61 in 15 major league seasons.

Rivera also has proven himself on baseball’s biggest stage, going 8-1 with a 0.77 ERA and a major league-record 34 saves in the postseason.

“It’s very, very difficult to be consistent year in and year out,” Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. “He’s been consistent every year.”

Rivera, Jeter, Pettitte and Jorge Posada came up through the minors together. Rivera was a starter when he made it to the majors in 1995 and went 5-3 with a 5.51 ERA in 19 games, 10 starts, in his first season with New York.

“It’s pretty amazing what he’s been able to do with pretty much a fastball,” Posada said. “It just tells you how well he locates his pitches and his demeanor never changes, going good or bad. He’s always the same, very competitive. Best in the business.”