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ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - With the Los Angeles Angels cruising along with a 7-0 lead after seven innings, Francisco Rodriguez was kicking back in the bullpen, figuring he wouldn't get his chance to tie a record.
Then Seattle scored three runs in the eighth, put runners on first and second with no outs in the ninth, and Rodriguez got the call. Greeted by rousing cheers as he took the mound, he got the final three outs Thursday night's 7-4 win for his record-tying 57th save of the season.
MLB roundup
Thursday's action
- Twins give ground in AL Central
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- Red-hot Jays down ChiSox
- Oswalt goes distance for Astros
- Rockies double up Braves
- Orioles pick up rare victory
- Howard hits 43rd HR for Phils
- Pads have rare offensive outburst
- Blalock homers, Rangers roll
- K-Rod joins Thigpen on saves list
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"When it was 7-0 in the seventh inning, I was just trying to chill and watch the game and relax. This is like the third or fourth time it's happened to me like this. But after their bats started coming alive, I started getting ready," said Rodriguez, who has 16 games left to try to top the major league record set by Bobby Thigpen with the 1990 Chicago White Sox.
Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia also figured Rodriguez was getting the night off.
"When you're sitting on a seven-run lead, really the furthest thing from your mind is, when do you get your closer up?" Scioscia said.
Rodriguez didn't know anything about Thigpen until it began to look as if he might make a run at the record.
"I didn't even know that he's the one that had the record. I didn't know about him until you guys (reporters) told me about him before the All-Star break," he said. "I started thinking I could get to the record a couple of weeks ago, and I started thinking about it more and more the closer I got.
"I knew if the guys kept playing the way they've been playing, I was capable of doing it. That's what I get paid for. But I've got to give the credit to my teammates and the guys who make the plays behind me. I'd be real selfish if I said I've done this by myself."
His chance to break the record is one of the remaining details of the regular season for the Angels, who clinched their fourth AL West title in five years on Wednesday. None of those division titles have led to a World Series. Their only World Series title came in 2002 as a wild card - when Rodriguez was a 20-year-old sensation in October.
"I'll tell you, I would trade the record for the ring. Obviously, my next step is to try to break the record, and after that, win the championship," Rodriguez said. "That's what I'm here for, and that's what I really want right now."
