Mariano Rivera

A pennant race changer: Mariano Rivera is down for the count. He is out for the season with an ACL and meniscus tear. The Yankees can now feel Boston's pain. The Red Sox lost their closer, Andrew Bailey , to thumb surgery that will likely keep him out for all but the last couple of months of the season, at least. In no way are we comparing Rivera, the greatest closer of all-time, to Bailey, but for the first time in 15 years, the Yankees have to think about another guy finishing games.

The Yankees have signed Andy Pettitte to a major league contract so he could make his first start since 2010. Pettitte came out of retirement in mid-March and had been working out at New York's spring training complex. He pitched in several minor league games in preparation for his first start Sunday against the Seattle Mariners. To make room for Pettitte on the roster, the Yankees transferred Mariano Rivera from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list and optioned right-hander Cody Eppley to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

I don't remember the year, but I remember it was in Minnesota at the Metrodome. As was his daily custom, Mariano Rivera was shagging flies in the outfield during batting practice. Running from gap to gap, he looked like a major league outfielder, not a relief pitcher. Alex Rodriguez was in the cage and three times in a row he drove balls to the wall in center field and three times in a row Rivera made unbelievable catches, leaping up and grabbing the ball before it cleared the fence.

The reality of life without Mariano Rivera set in for the New York Yankees Wednesday night. Matt Joyce hit a three-run homer off fill-in closer David Robertson in the ninth inning, falling down on a twisted ankle as he finished his swing, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied to beat the Yankees, 4-1. In his first chance since taking over for the injured Rivera, Robertson escaped a bases-loaded jam to save Tuesday's 5-3 victory over the Rays....

... feels for Mariano Rivera.

The Red Sox continued to lose at home, dropping a 6-4 loss against the Orioles in 13 innings. The notebook has Josh Beckett regretting his decision to pitch last week. Mariano Rivera is coming back and he has the support of the Red Sox. Michael Vega has the story.

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi says closer Mariano Rivera has a torn right knee ligament, an injury that could potentially end his career. The 42-year-old right-hander was carted off the field after twisting his right knee shagging flyballs during batting practice Thursday night before the Yankees played the Kansas City Royals.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff NEW YORK — The Yankees held a ceremony before the first game to recognize the great Mariano Rivera for setting the all-time saves record earlier this month. Terry Francona and bench coach DeMarlo Hale led the applause from the Red Sox dugout with David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia among the players joining in. Rivera tipped his cap to the Red Sox when the ceremony was over. The Yankees commissioned a Waterford Crystal fireman's helmet for Rivera and his teammates presented him with a near life-size lithograph showing his...

Matt Joyce hit a three-run homer off fill-in closer David Robertson in the ninth inning, falling down on a twisted ankle as he finished his swing, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied to beat the New York Yankees 4-1 on Wednesday night. In his first chance since taking over for injured star Mariano Rivera, Robertson escaped a bases-loaded jam to save Tuesday night's 5-3 victory over the Rays. But one night later, New York got a chilling dose of real-life reality without Rivera. With the Yankees clinging to a 1-0 lead, Sean Rodriguez singled through the left side on Robertson's first...

The Red Sox lost again as a big inning against Aaron Cook lifted the Orioles to an 8-2 victory. For Cook, it was a painful day . Julian Benbow has the story. The notebook has the bullpen doing some solid work. In the Sundy Baseball Notes, Nick Cafardo looks at how Mariano Rivera's injury affects the AL East (subscription only).

A pennant race changer: Mariano Rivera is down for the count. He is out for the season with an ACL and meniscus tear. The Yankees can now feel Boston's pain. The Red Sox lost their closer, Andrew Bailey , to thumb surgery that will likely keep him out for all but the last couple of months of the season, at least. In no way are we comparing Rivera, the greatest closer of all-time, to Bailey, but for the first time in 15 years, the Yankees have to think about another guy finishing games.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Leave it to CC Sabathia and Derek Jeter, a couple of grizzled veterans, to give the New York Yankees an uplifting performance when they need it the most. Jeter hit a two-run homer to break open a close game, Sabathia went eight innings for the third straight time, and the Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals, 6-2, on Friday night. They snapped a three-game skid while also taking a bold first step after losing closer Mariano Rivera to injury. "We lost three in a row. We didn't finish up the homestand the way we wanted.

Already in the twilight of a Hall of Fame career, it was feared Mariano Rivera would not be able to conclude it on his own terms after the Yankees' 42-year-old closer suffered a season-ending knee injury while shagging fly balls during batting practice Thursday night in Kansas City, Mo. Rivera tore the anterior cruciate ligament and damaged the meniscus in his right knee during batting practice, which had been part of his weekly routine....