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Record for Angel pitcher

By ART THOMPSON III / The Orange County Register

ANAHEIM -- With the fans chanting "Frank-ee, Frank-ee," Ángels closer Francisco Rodríguez stared in to get the sign from catcher Mike Napoli with a full count on Seattle Mariners hitter Raúl Ibañez.

There was a swing and a miss, and Rodríguez had his major league record 58th save in a 5-2 Sept. 13 victory at Ángel Stadium.

Rodríguez sank to his knees on the mound and stuck to his customary tribute to his late grandfather as he looked up to the sky after striking out Ibañez, who left two on base in the final out against Seattle.

His teammates blew out of the dugout to congratulate him, joined seconds later by his relief pitching mates, who raced in from the bullpen.

The major league record for saves, held since 1990 by Bobby Thigpen, now belongs exclusively to Rodríguez. He had preserved another Ángels' victory and now there will be a couple of his items that will be preserved...in Cooperstown.

The ball that Rodríguez threw to strike out Ibañez and the No. 57 jersey he wore Saturday will be packed and shipped to the Hall of Fame.

"I'm happy. I don't have the words to describe," Rodríguez said, sitting in front of his locker after the game. "It's been an amazing year. I haven't felt this in so long. When we won the World Series, that's the last time I had that emotion."

Thanks from Rodríguez went first to his teammates and then to Angels' Manager Mike Scioscia for giving him the trust and opportunity to protect all these games.

"We're very excited for Frankie, the year he's having, the career he's having," Scioscia said. "As I told him on the mound, there's a lot more saves that we need from you this year."

The ovation was deafening among the 43,757 fans who rallied when Rodríguez sprinted from the bullpen to pitch in the ninth.

Rodríguez had failed in six opportunities this year to close out games, not unlike Thigpen who missed out on eight chances in the season before breaking the record himself.

Moments after the mob scene at the mound, Rodríguez trotted over to the field-level section behind the plate to salute his family members. He included in this illustrious occasion his late grandfather, who died 10 years ago and never got a chance to see Rodríguez pitch professionally.

"He was there," Rodríguez said.