Rivera Yields Grand Slam as Twins Win

Mariano Rivera had not given up a Grand Slam since 2002, had not allowed a walk with the bases loaded since 2005 and had not blown a save in the country since 2007. But within seconds on Sunday, all those streaks came to an end.

With two outs in the eighth inning and the Yankees leading by two runs, manager Joe Girardi called on Rivera Joba Chamberlain relieving with the bases loaded. Rivera entered the designated hitter Jim Thome to force in a run before Jason Kubel hit a grand slam over the right field fence to give Minnesota a three-run lead en route to a 6-3 victory.

The 46,628 fans at Yankee Stadium, many standing waiting for Rivera, who ends the episode, quickly sat down and was silent.

"He's human, is human showed today," Girardi said.

Rivera has allowed four Grand Slam tournaments in his career, one start in 1995, and Sunday was the first since Bill Selby of Cleveland hit a winning shot on July 14, 2002. Kubel's homer also ended streak of 51 consecutive saves Rivera at home, which had been tied with Eric Gagne, who set the mark with the Dodgers in Los Angeles from 2002-2004.

The Yankees put their first two batters in the ninth inning, but Jon Rauch struck out the next three to earn his 10th save.

As surprising as it was to see Rivera not as spectacular, it is rare that the return came from the Twins. One of the best teams in baseball, the Twins had lost 12 consecutive games against the Yankees, including a sweep of three games in a Division Series American League last year.

The game began to unravel for the Yankees when the Twins' Michael Cuddyer hit a soft line to first baseman Mark Teixeira with runners on first and second and two outs in the eighth inning. Teixeira misplayed the ball and went off his glove for an infield single that loaded the bases.

Replaced Chamberlain and Rivera issued a walk to Thome. It was the seventh time in his career that Rivera had walked Thome, more than any other player who has faced.

"For me it is walking on a career," Rivera said when asked what surprised him most about the entry. "You have control of it. I mean, nothing in a home that can happen, but walking a race is unacceptable."