We Own Mo! Well, OK, We Don't.
Mariano Rivera--a sure first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and perhaps the best relief pitcher of all time, has now allowed only 47 homers in his career. Which team has hit more of those than any other? After Adrian Beltre's game-winning Funk Blast last night, your Seattle Mariners have 7, tied with the Orioles as the most homerin-off-Mo teams in baseball.
Beltre joins Edgar (one of only two guys to have more than one homer off Rivera (Rafael Palmiero is the other)), Griffey, Buhner, Roberto Kelly and Luis Sojo as Mariners who've homered off of Rivera.
Four of those homers came in '95 though, when Rivera was, for the most part, a starter. Since then, it's been a tough road against Mo. Beltre's homer was the first the M's have hit off him since 1997--when a solo blast by Roberto Kelly accounted for Rivera's only blown save against the M's in 24 chances, in a game Rivera ended up winning anyway.
Last night's game was the first loss the M's have inflicted against Rivera as a reliever.
So, to recap--Rivera, as a reliever against the Mariners, is 3-1 with 23 saves in 24 chances.
Ok, but we owned him last night, right? Check out the M's home page for video of Beltre's blast.


