"Mariano Rivera had long ago passed bullpen luminaries like Lee Smith, John Franco, Billy Wagner and Dennis Eckersley on the career saves list, and had only one man to catch.

On Saturday, in the 17th year of a career in which Rivera had already established himself in most eyes as the best closer ever, he finally reached the saves summit.

Rivera's chase of Trevor Hoffman ended Saturday when he pitched a perfect ninth inning to lock down the Yankees' 7-6 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. The save, Rivera's 601st, tied him with Hoffman. "