Angels’ K-Rod gets MLB record 58th save

ANAHEIM, California – Francisco Rodriguez set the major league record with his 58th save this season, closing out the Los Angeles Angels’ 5-2 win over Seattle in Major League Baseball on Saturday night. Two days earlier, Rodriguez tied the mark of 57 set by Bobby Thigpen with the Chicago White Sox in 1990. The Angels’ right-hander also posted a save on Wednesday to help the Angels clinch the AL West title. He has blown six save opportunities this year. Thigpen blew eight chances in his record-setting season. With fans on their feet, Rodriguez struck out Raul Ibanez swinging with two on for the final out. K-Rod immediately lifted his arms and looked skyward in his traditional salute to his late grandfather, then sank to his knees. The Angels’ No. 57 had a new number: 58. His teammates surrounded him on the mound and the other Angels relievers came running in from the bullpen to join the celebration. Rodriguez ran over to the third-base dugout and waved to the crowd. “It’s unbelievable," Rodriguez said. “Finally I did it. “It’s been an amazing year," he said, praising his fellow relievers. “Without them I couldn’t have done this." Cameras flashed as Rodriguez came on in the ninth. He quickly got in trouble, allowing a leadoff double to Miguel Cairo and walking Luis Valbuena on four pitches. Ichiro Suzuki followed with a chopper up the middle that second baseman Sean Rodriguez seemed to tap to shortstop Brandon Wood for the forceout. Rodriguez then struck out Wladimir Balentien and Ibanez to end the game. Juan Rivera, filling in for Vladimir Guererro, had four hits, including a two-run homer and tied a club record with three doubles. He pulled up lame at second base in the eighth on his third double and came out of the game. Jon Garland (14-8) went six innings, giving up two runs in the first, then blanking the Mariners over the next five. Darren Oliver pitched the seventh and Scot Shields the eighth to set the stage for Rodriguez. The Mariners’ Ryan Feierabend (1-3) pitched into the sixth and gave up four runs and seven hits. Adrian Beltre’s sacrifice fly and Yuniesky Betancourt’s RBI single staked Seattle to a 2-0 lead in the opening inning, then Rivera tied it up with his homer to left-center off Feierabend after Torii Hunter singled in the second. Those same two combined to give Los Angeles a 3-2 lead in the fourth, with Hunter doubling and coming home on Rivera’s two-base hit. Rivera doubled again leading off the sixth inning and scored on Brandon Wood’s single to build the lead to 4-2. Brandon Wood’s sacrifice fly in the eighth provided the final run. Garland again gave up runs early—he has allowed a combined nine runs and 14 hits in the first inning of his last four starts. But he’s still 3-0 over that stretch. – AP