"The Yankees scored six runs on two swings at the Stadium Thursday. They won a series, got a grand slam from the resurgent Robinson Cano and yet one more home run from their noted non-home run hitter, Curtis Granderson.

But make no mistake: this 6-5 victory over the Angels was not merely another fun day in the summer sun for a 71-45 team. This was a game that had to leave a ripe residue of concern, if not outright worry, no matter if anybody will admit it.

Because for the second straight time, Mariano Rivera came in and gave up a home run. For the third straight time, he came in and looked eminently hittable, even fragile. On Sunday night, he blew a save in Boston. On Tuesday night, he gave up a two-run, tie-breaking ninth-inning homer to Bobby Abreu to lose a game to the Angels.

Thursday, after Cory Wade gave up a single and double in the ninth, Rivera got the ball in a 6-2 game. His first pitch to pinch-hitter Russell Branyan was his trademark cutter, but not one that sawed Branyan off, or that he looked silly on.

It was a thigh-high cutter that Branyan launched into the right field seats.

"For a three-game stretch, I've never seen him hit this way," said Branyan, who had no hits and four strikeouts in five previous appearances against Rivera.

Rivera got the final two outs for his 30th save, but it was as hollow a save as he has had in a long time.

"Nobody likes this," Rivera said. "Nobody wants to go out there and give up the game and throw pitches so they can hit home runs. Games like this get me upset because I didn't do what I'm supposed to be doing.""