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Three up, three down – a typical Rivera night, except for one thing. He didn't get career save No. 652. Instead he was declared the winning pitcher.

And it's legit.

Official scorer Mark Jacobson invoked Rule 10:17(c), which says, "The official scorer shall not credit as the winning pitcher a relief pitcher who is ineffective in a brief appearance, when at least one succeeding relief pitcher pitches effectively in helping his team maintain its lead. In such a case, the official scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher the succeeding relief pitcher who was most effective, in the judgment of the official scorer."

Normally, David Robertson would have been the winner but his eighth-inning appearance qualified as brief (one inning) and ineffective (game-tying three-run homer to Danny Valencia).

"I'm fine with that," Rivera said. "We won."

Yeah, until that next superhuman closer comes along.