K-Rod gets 50th save, single-season record within sight

Updated: August 24, 2008

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Francisco Rodriguez recorded his 50th save of the season by closing out the Twins on Sunday.

EARLY ARRIVAL

"MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL"

• Dodgers at Phillies, 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Angels salvaged a split with the Twins, but it wasn't easy. The Angels had to rally to win the finale, with Francisco Rodriguez closing the Twins out for the second straight day. But Sunday's save was special.

Rodriguez became the fifth American League pitcher to reach the 50-save mark, and the fastest pitcher to reach 50 saves, by a wide margin. He remains on pace to break Bobby Thigpen's record of 57 saves, which he set as a member of the White Sox in 1990. It helps that all 50 of K-Rod's saves have been of an inning or less. That's kept him fresh for the most important part of the season -- October.

Most saves in season (AL)
Pitcher Team Year Saves
Bobby Thigpen White Sox 1990 57
Mariano Rivera Yankees 2004 53
Dennis Eckersley A's 1992 51
Mariano Rivera Yankees 2001 50
Francisco Rodriguez Angels 2008 50

Fastest to 50
Pitcher Year Games
Francisco Rodriguez 2008 129
Eric Gagne 2003 143
John Smoltz 2002 144
Bobby Thigpen 1990 145
Dennis Eckersley 1992 150
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TOUCH 'EM ALL

Touch 'Em AllWho went deep? Keep track of all the home runs hit each day on "Baseball Tonight" and on the Baseball Tonight Clubhouse page.

Click here to find out who hit the longest home run. For more, check out the Home Run Tracker page.

NAME HR OPPPITCHER SITUATION
C. Beltran, NYM18HouWolfBot 1: 0-1, 2 Outs. 1 on.
V. Wells, Tor13BosMatsuzakaBot 1: 1-0, 2 Outs. 1 on.
D. Pedroia, Bos14TorBurnettTop 3: 0-0, 2 Outs. 2 on.
M. Mora, Bal22NYYRasnerBot 1: 1-0, 2 Outs. None on.
A. Huff, Bal28NYYRasnerBot 1: 3-2, 2 Outs. None on.
R. Baldelli, TB2CWSBuehrleTop 1: 0-0, 2 Outs. 1 on.
J. Damon, NYY9BalCabreraTop 2: 0-0, 1 Outs. 2 on.
H. Pence, Hou18NYMPerezTop 4: 0-0, 2 Outs. 1 on.
A. Pujols, StL28AtlReyesBot 1: 1-0, 1 Outs. 1 on.
L. Overbay, Tor11BosMatsuzakaBot 4: 0-1, 2 Outs. None on.
C. Beltran, NYM19HouWolfBot 5: 1-0, 2 Outs. None on.
J. Guillen, KC17DetRogersBot 2: 0-0, 0 Outs. None on.
M. DeRosa, ChC18WasBergmannBot 2: 0-1, 0 Outs. None on.
G. Soto, ChC19WasBergmannBot 2: 3-1, 0 Outs. 1 on.
A. Kearns, Was7ChCHardenTop 3: 1-2, 0 Outs. None on.
C. Quentin, CWS36TBSonnanstineBot 4: 2-2, 0 Outs. 1 on.
J. Thome, CWS27TBSonnanstineBot 4: 0-1, 0 Outs. 1 on.
C. Crisp, Bos7TorBurnettTop 7: 1-0, 0 Outs. None on.
B. Ausmus, Hou2NYMFelicianoTop 10: 2-2, 0 Outs. None on.
B. Roberts, Bal9NYYRamirezBot 5: 0-1, 2 Outs. 1 on.
B. Giles, SD9SFCorreiaTop 1: 0-0, 0 Outs. None on.
K. Fukudome, ChC9WasShellBot 7: 2-0, 1 Outs. 1 on.
D. Erstad, Hou3NYMFelicianoTop 10: 0-1, 2 Outs. None on.
J. Hannahan, Oak6SeaHernandezTop 1: 1-0, 1 Outs. None on.
S. Drew, Ari15FlaNolascoBot 1: 0-1, 0 Outs. None on.
J. Lowrie, Bos2TorLeagueTop 11: 1-1, 1 Outs. None on.
R. Cano, NYY12BalWalkerTop 7: 0-1, 1 Outs. None on.
C. Dickerson, Cin3ColJimenezTop 6: 2-2, 0 Outs. None on.
J. Hannahan, Oak7SeaHernandezTop 3: 1-2, 2 Outs. None on.
M. Cameron, Mil23PitBautistaBot 8: 1-2, 2 Outs. None on.
J. Morneau, Min20LAASantanaTop 6: 2-1, 0 Outs. None on.
M. Teixeira, LAA7MinSloweyBot 6: 2-2, 0 Outs. None on.
R. Bowen, Oak1SeaHernandezTop 5: 2-1, 1 Outs. None on.
K. Johjima, Sea5OakMeyerBot 5: 2-1, 0 Outs. None on.
J. Willingham, Fla9AriDavisTop 6: 1-2, 0 Outs. None on.
J. Lopez, Sea11OakSaarloosBot 6: 1-0, 1 Outs. 2 on.
B. Molina, SF10SDAdamsBot 6: 0-0, 2 Outs. 2 on.
O. Quintanilla, Col2CinLincolnBot 12: 1-0, 1 Outs. None on.
P. Feliz, Phi13LADJohnsonBot 11: 0-0, 2 Outs. 2 on.

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BBTN ON THE AIR: MONDAY

TIME WHO'S ON?
10 p.m. ET
ESPN2
Host: Steve Berthiaume
Analyst: John Kruk, Chris Singleton, Buck Showalter
12:30 a.m. ET ESPN Host: Steve Berthiaume
Analyst: John Kruk, Chris Singleton, Buck Showalter

BBTN MINUTE: K-ROD GETS 50TH SAVE

SPORTSNATION: ALL-TIME FRANCHISE PLAYERS

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SUNDAY DOUBLE PLAY

Every Sunday on the 12:30 p.m. ET "Baseball Tonight" show, Karl Ravech, John Kruk and Steve Phillips took part in the Sunday Double Play competition. Each of them selected a starting pitcher and a hitter to play for Sunday's games. They competed in three categories -- wins, hits and home runs -- based on the results of their selections. The results are cumulative for the season. On Sunday, the competition concluded, with John Kruk winning the first "championship." He was presented a trophy, which he noted was hitting right-handed.

Here are the final standings:

Wins Hits HR
John 9 29 7
Steve 9 23 0
Karl 12 20 5

SUNDAY'S NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES

GOOD
Rich Harden• Rich Harden allowed two hits and one run over seven innings against the Nationals. Harden also struck out 11 for his second consecutive double-digit-strikeout performance. Harden has won four consecutive decisions.
BAD
Jesse Crain• Jesse Crain couldn't hold onto Minnesota's lead against the Angels. Crain gave up two hits and two runs in the eighth and was saddled with the loss. The Angels scored all five of their runs in the 5-3 win over the final three innings.
UGLY
Darrell Rasner• Darrell Rasner and Daniel Cabrera share the honor. The two starting pitchers in the Yankees' game with the Orioles did not last four innings. Rasner gave up five runs in 3 1/3 innings. Cabrera gave up seven runs in 3 2/3 innings in a game the Orioles lost 8-7.

FANTASY: PREVIEW OF MONDAY'S GAMES

Adam Madison examines the pitching matchups in store for the 10 games on Monday's schedule.

Madison also looks at current injuries and details player reports that could help shape the way you put together your roster for Monday's games. Daily Notes

FORWARD THINKING: MONDAY

Brett Myers • Dodgers at Phillies, 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN: Brett Myers (6-10, 4.71 ERA) is coming off his best start of the season, a complete-game shutout against the Nationals. The start before that, Myers lost a 3-1 decision against the Dodgers. Chad Billingsley (12-9, 3.10 ERA) has not lost in more than a month, going 3-0 with three no-decisions.

Dan Haren • Diamondbacks at Padres, 10:05 p.m. ET: Dan Haren (14-6, 3.12 ERA) is 6-1 over his past seven starts, a stretch which includes two wins against the Padres. Jake Peavy's (9-9, 2.84 ERA) most recent start was against the D-backs -- and Haren -- but it didn't go well, with the righty giving up six runs and four walks in five innings.

Francisco Liriano • Twins at Mariners, 10:05 p.m. ET: Francisco Liriano (4-3, 4.24 ERA) tries to keep his roll going. He is 4-0 with a 1.14 ERA since returning to the majors. One of those wins came against Seattle, as he gave up two runs over seven innings Aug. 15. Miguel Batista (4-12, 6.55 ERA) makes his first start since Aug. 4 after six relief appearances.

• Complete list of pitching probables for Monday