According to the Associated Press:

Mariano Rivera struck out two during a perfect fifth inning in his first game since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery and the New York Yankees beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-2 on Tuesday night.

"I feel real good," Rivera said. "I don't want to say I was expecting this, but I was happy with the results. It went well. Location. Pitches. I think everything will be fine."

Rivera had the AC joint in his right shoulder repaired on Oct. 7. The Yankees closer threw eight of 11 pitches for strikes.

"Mo looked like he has been pitching for a couple of weeks," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It was incredible. It was more than I expected."

According to the Associated Press and ESPN.com, Yankee closer Mariano Rivera underwent successful shoulder surgery:

New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera had surgery Tuesday on his right shoulder and is expected to resume throwing in three months, a month ahead of spring training.

Altchek shaved a calcified joint on the top of Rivera's shoulder.


The term successful is a tough label to put on the surgery this early, as Yankee fans will want to see success translate into another dominant season by the Yankee closer.

In the final game ever played at Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers sent out baseball's beloved cathedral in grand fashion. Andy Pettite pitched the best he has in a month, Jose Molina hit the last ever home run at the Stadium, and Mariano Rivera closed the door (despite a non save situation) in Mo-like fashion to end the ninth.

Derek Jeter was taken out of the game in the ninth inning to receive the proper sendoff the Yankee Captain was due. The entire Stadium erupted when Jeter came out to tip his hat, one last time.

New York Yankees
Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
J Damon CF-LF	4	1	1	3	1	0	0	.307
M Cabrera LF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.243
D Jeter SS	5	0	0	0	0	2	3	.301
W Betemit SS	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.260
B Abreu RF	4	1	2	0	0	1	0	.299
A Rodriguez 3B	2	0	0	0	2	0	2	.303
J Giambi 1B	3	0	1	1	1	0	2	.249
B Gardner PR-CF	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.190
X Nady LF	4	0	0	0	0	0	3	.267
C Ransom 1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.296
R Cano 2B	2	1	1	1	1	0	1	.264
H Matsui DH	3	1	1	0	0	0	2	.294
a-I Rodriguez PH-DH	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.278
J Molina C	4	2	3	2	0	0	0	.221
Totals	32	7	9	7	5	3	14
a-grounded to second for H Matsui in the 7th
BATTING HR: J Damon (16, 3rd inning off C Waters 2 on, 0 Out); J Molina (3, 4th inning off C Waters 1 on, 1 Out) RBI: J Damon 3 (69), J Molina 2 (17), J Giambi (94), R Cano (64) SF: R Cano GIDP: J Giambi Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: D Jeter 2, I Rodriguez 1, X Nady 1, R Cano 1 Team LOB: 7
BASERUNNING SB: B Abreu (20, 2nd base off L Cormier/R Hernandez)
FIELDING E: A Pettitte (2, ground ball)

New York Yankees
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
A Pettitte (W, 14-14)	5.0	7	3	2	1	3	0	85-63	4.54
J Veras (H, 10)	0.2	0	0	0	1	1	0	16-8	3.54
P Coke (H, 3)	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	8-5	0.00
J Chamberlain (H, 18)	1.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	14-8	2.46
M Rivera	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11-8	1.45
Totals	9.0	7	3	2	2	6	0	134-92
PITCHING Batters faced: A Pettitte 24; J Veras 3; P Coke 2; J Chamberlain 5; M Rivera 3 Ground Balls-Fly Balls: A Pettitte 6-6; J Veras 0-1; P Coke 1-0; J Chamberlain 2-2; M Rivera 3-0

Scoring Summary
			BAL	NYY
	2nd	J Payton grounded into fielder's choice to third, A Jones scored, K Millar out at second.	1	0
	3rd	M Mora singled to right center, B Roberts scored.	2	0
	3rd	J Damon homered to right, H Matsui and J Molina scored.	2	3
	4th	B Roberts singled to right, K Millar scored, J Payton to second.	3	3
	4th	J Molina homered to left, R Cano scored.	3	5
	7th	J Giambi singled to shallow left, B Abreu scored.	3	6
	7th	R Cano hit sacrifice fly to left, B Gardner scored, X Nady to second.	3	7

Carl Pavano has got a win streak going, even though its been 501 days in between the two wins. Pavano pitched well against the Orioles last night, going five innings en route to a 5-3 Yankee win. Rivera picked up the save (#30 on the season) and Giambi and Matsui both homered.

New York Yankees
Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
J Damon CF	4	1	1	0	1	0	1	.311
D Jeter SS	4	0	1	0	0	1	1	.296
B Abreu RF	4	0	0	0	0	2	3	.293
A Rodriguez 3B	3	2	1	1	0	1	0	.309
J Giambi 1B	4	1	2	3	0	0	0	.253
C Ransom 1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.000
X Nady LF	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.316
H Matsui DH	4	1	1	1	0	1	2	.312
R Cano 2B	4	0	1	0	0	2	0	.263
I Rodriguez C	4	0	0	0	0	1	1	.285
Totals	35	5	8	5	1	9	8
BATTING 2B: A Rodriguez (29, J Guthrie) HR: J Giambi (25, 3rd inning off J Guthrie 1 on, 2 Out); H Matsui (9, 7th inning off J Guthrie 0 on, 0 Out) RBI: A Rodriguez (78), J Giambi 3 (76), H Matsui (38) 2-out RBI: A Rodriguez, J Giambi 3 Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: B Abreu 1, H Matsui 1 Team LOB: 5
FIELDING DP: 1 (R Cano).

New York Yankees
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
C Pavano (W, 1-0)	5.0	7	3	3	1	5	0	91-54	5.40
B Bruney (H, 5)	2.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	29-19	2.11
J Veras (H, 8)	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	21-13	2.72
M Rivera (S, 30)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	10-6	1.57
Totals	9.0	9	3	3	1	9	0	151-92
PITCHING HBP: K Millar (By C Pavano); M Mora (By C Pavano) Batters faced: C Pavano 24; B Bruney 7; J Veras 4; M Rivera 3 Ground Balls-Fly Balls: C Pavano 5-4; B Bruney 2-3; J Veras 1-0; M Rivera 2-0

Scoring Summary
			NYY	BAL
	1st	A Rodriguez doubled to deep center, J Damon scored, A Rodriguez to third advancing on throw.	1	0
	1st	J Giambi reached on infield single to second, A Rodriguez scored.	2	0
	2nd	J Castro hit sacrifice fly to center, L Scott scored, K Millar to third, J Payton to second.	2	1
	2nd	B Roberts grounded out to shortstop, K Millar scored, J Payton to third.	2	2
	2nd	N Markakis singled to center, J Payton scored.	2	3
	3rd	J Giambi homered to center, A Rodriguez scored.	4	3
	7th	H Matsui homered to right center.	5	3

The Yanks finally snapped their losing streak, edging out their AL East Rival, Boston Red Sox, 2-1.
Seven batters were plunked during the game, tying an American League record, with Manny Ramirez being drilled three times (also tying a major league record).
Mariano Rivera came in the ninth inning to close the door on the Sox, but struggled en route to earning his 23rd save. After giving up a run, Rivera escaped a no out bases loaded jam.
Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera each had an RBI in the victory.

New York Yankees
Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
B Gardner LF	3	0	0	1	0	0	1	.063
D Jeter SS	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	.282
B Abreu RF	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	.275
A Rodriguez 3B	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	.320
J Giambi DH	3	1	0	0	1	1	5	.259
W Betemit 1B	4	1	1	0	0	1	5	.255
R Cano 2B	3	0	1	0	0	0	1	.249
M Cabrera CF	4	0	2	1	0	0	1	.249
J Molina C	3	0	0	0	0	1	3	.225
Totals	29	2	6	2	3	4	18
BATTING RBI: M Cabrera (33), B Gardner (2) SF: B Gardner 2-out RBI: M Cabrera Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: D Jeter 1, W Betemit 2, J Molina 2, J Giambi 1 Team LOB: 10
BASERUNNING SB: A Rodriguez 2 (13, 2nd base off J Masterson/J Varitek, 3rd base off J Masterson/J Varitek)
FIELDING Outfield Assist: B Gardner (D Pedroia at 2nd base).

New York Yankees
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
M Mussina (W, 11-6)	6.0	4	0	0	1	5	0	89-54	3.64
J Veras (H, 5)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	15-9	2.54
K Farnsworth (H, 10)	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	15-11	3.79
M Rivera (S, 23)	1.0	2	1	1	0	2	0	25-16	1.17
Totals	9.0	6	1	1	1	9	0	144-90
PITCHING WP: M Mussina HBP: M Ramirez 3 (By M Mussina 2; M Rivera); K Youkilis (By M Rivera) Batters faced: M Mussina 23; J Veras 3; K Farnsworth 3; M Rivera 7 Ground Balls-Fly Balls: M Mussina 5-6; J Veras 0-1; K Farnsworth 1-2; M Rivera 0-1

Scoring Summary
			BOS	NYY
	2nd	M Cabrera singled to right, J Giambi scored, R Cano to third, M Cabrera to second advancing on throw.	0	1
	6th	B Gardner hit sacrifice fly to left, W Betemit scored.	0	2
	9th	M Lowell singled to right, J Drew scored, B Moss to second.	1	2