Panama’s Rivera registers 500th save

06-30-2009 | AFP

The Yankees closer, now lies second on the list for the all time record

Panama Star NEW YORK. Panama’s Mariano Rivera tossed a scoreless bottom half of the ninth to record his 500th career save in the New York Yankees 4-2 win over the New York Mets.

Rivera, who also registered an RBI, posted the final four outs of the Major League Baseball game as the Yankees swept the three-game series at Citi Field.

He trails only Milwaukee's Trevor Hoffman (571) for the all-time lead.

Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez came on in the ninth and allowed a pair of base runners before getting Yankees hitter Johnny Damon to line out to right field.

Rodriguez then walked Yankees star Derek Jeter intentionally with Rivera on deck and ready to make his third career regular season at bat.

Rivera fouled off a 2-2 pitch before Rodriguez threw back to back balls, forcing in a run as Rivera was credited with the first RBI of his career.

Rivera's signature pitch is his cut fastball or "cutter". He discovered the cutter accidentally while playing catch with Ramiro Mendoza,