Retiring Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has gotten numerous standing ovations in opposing stadiums around baseball this season. But the one he got Saturday night may be the most unexpected.
Rivera received a standing ovation at Fenway Park in Boston. (Let that sink in for a moment before continuing.)
In his first appearance at the home of the bitter rival Red Sox during his final big-league season, Rivera trotted in from the right-field bullpen to considerable respect from the Fenway faithful.
“I always love to pitch here, always,” Rivera said after the game. “Yankees Stadium’s home, but I love to come here. It’s a great atmosphere. We’ve played big games here. It’s always good.”
MLB.com has video of the ovation here.
According to our friends at The Journal News in Westchester, N.Y., Rivera also got an ovation Friday on his way to the bullpen before the game.
“Yesterday, when I was going to the bullpen, they did the same thing,” he said. “It’s like an appreciation, I guess. It’s great, though. They do that — acknowledge you — knowing that you’ve been there for so many years.”
After the ovation, Rivera then did what he does best, pitching a scoreless ninth to finish off New York’s 5-2 victory for his 31st save of the season.
Many outlets have noted that it wasn’t the first standing ovation Rivera has received at Fenway Park. Rivera received a somewhat sarcastic ovation from the Boston crowd on Opening Day in 2005, the year after the Red Sox rallied from a 3-0 deficit against the Yankees in the ALCS on the way to winning their first World Series title in 86 years
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