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Posted at 2:23 p.m., Monday, September 17, 2007

Baseball: Yanks' Rivera OK after toss bruises pinkie

By Mike Fitzpatrick
Associated Press Baseball Writer

NEW YORK — Mariano Rivera was available for the New York Yankees again today, one night after the pinkie on his pitching hand was bruised by a stray throw as he loosened up in the bullpen at Fenway Park.

The star closer was stretching late in last night's game against the Red Sox, preparing to warm up, when an errant toss hit him on both bare hands. Rivera initially thought the ball might have come from the stands, but more likely it was a wild throw that sailed out of Boston's nearby bullpen.

"I'm sure it was just an error," he said. "I know they didn't do it on purpose."

Rivera continued to get ready, and he preserved New York's 4-3 victory. Pitching with a bruised pinkie on his right hand, he allowed a run in the ninth inning before retiring slugger David Ortiz on a game-ending popup with the bases loaded for his 28th save of the season.

Rivera said today his bruised pinkie was sore, especially on the nail.

"It's OK. Everything is good," the reliever explained, adding that his pinkie was numb throughout last night's outing. "It hit me good."

Yankees manager Joe Torre said he wasn't aware of the bruise until today but it shouldn't affect Rivera on the mound. Torre said Rivera was available for the opener of a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.

"He doesn't hold any of his pitches with it," Torre said. "Stuff like that happens. I guess if I didn't get him up in the eighth, it wouldn't have happened."