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Rodriguez records 58th save as Angels top Mariners

Sep 14, 2008 - 5:10 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Francisco Rodriguez claimed the single-season record with his 58th save and Juan Rivera had four hits as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim posted a 5-2 triumph over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

Rodriguez worked around a leadoff double and a walk in the ninth to record the final three outs and snap Bobby Thigpen's major league record of 57 saves set in 1990 while with the Chicago White Sox. Rodriguez struck out Wladimir Balentien and Raul Ibanez to end the game and clinch the historic mark.

After the final strikeout, Rodriguez lifted his arms skyward before being mobbed by his teammates.

"It's all about my teammates. All year our starting pitching has been great. It allows us to hand it over to the (bullpen) and get to me. It's a team effort and can't do it without them," Rodriguez said.

"It feels great, but still have work to do. I didn't know who Bobby Thigpen or what the record was until the All-Star break. I would take a (World Series) ring instead of the record."

The 26-year-old Rodriguez moved past Jeff Shaw for 36th place on the all-time list with 204 career saves. Coincidentally, Rodriguez passed Thigpen on the list on Wednesday in the Angels' 4-2 win over the New York Yankees.

Thigpen had 202 career saves.

On September 2, Rodriguez became the youngest pitcher to record 200 career saves, joining 37 others in the club.

Prior to this season, Rodriguez's season-high was 47 saves - set in the 2006 campaign.

Filling in for Vladimir Guerrero, Rivera belted a two-run homer in the second inning and tied a club record with three doubles.

"Just try to go up and do my job in situations," Rivera said through an interpreter. "I got some good pitches to hit and made good contact. (I) just wanted to hit the ball in the gap and make things happen."

Torii Hunter scored twice for Anaheim, which has won four straight and six of its last seven games.

Jon Garland (14-8) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings to pick up the win. Darren Oliver and Scot Shields pitched a hitless inning of relief to set the stage for Rodriguez.

"Our 'pen has been the strength the whole year," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I have to give credit to our starting pitching to go deep in games to get to Franky."

"(Scioscia) has given me every opportunity to close games out for us," Rodriguez said. "It couldn't be done without guys like Shields setting it up. It would be selfish of me to say I did this myself, but it couldn't be done without the whole team doing their jobs."

Yuniesky Betancourt's run-scoring single highlighted a two-run first inning for Seattle, which lost for the seventh time in 10 games.

Ryan Feierabend (1-3) pitched five-plus innings, allowing four runs and seven hits to take the loss.

"They have the best record in the majors for a reason," Seattle manager Jim Riggleman said. "No matter what lineup they put out there, will make a tough night for any pitcher."