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On a New York night that belonged to baseball's most unflappable closer, Rivera became the second reliever to reach the milestone when the Yankees held off the punchless Mets 4-2 Sunday for a Subway Series sweep.
He joined Milwaukee's Trevor Hoffman, who has 571 saves, as the only major leaguers with 500. But what Rivera enjoyed best was his bases-loaded walk that provided a ninth-inning insurance run.
"I had one thing in mind — just try to do something," he said, before expounding on No. 500. "All of my teammates congratulated me, obviously. I think they were more happy than I was."
Chien-Ming Wang (1-6) won for the first time since June 15 last year and Rivera got four outs to secure the Yankees' fifth straight victory, all on the road.
In a fun twist, the 39-year-old Rivera even contributed on offense. The Mets walked Derek Jeter intentionally to get to Rivera with two outs, but he's proved to be no pushover at the plate. He fouled off a 2-2 pitch from Francisco Rodriguez before working out a walk for his first career RBI.
It was the third regular-season plate appearance for Rivera — and second in five days. With his teammates yucking it up in the dugout, he flied out against Atlanta on Wednesday, then finished off save No. 498.
"He looks good up there," Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte said. "I think in Atlanta they gave him a take sign and he swung anyway."
Mark Teixeira hit a two-run double off Livan Hernandez (5-3) in a three-run first, when the Yankees had two of their four hits. Jorge Posada added a sacrifice fly.
The injury-depleted Mets (37-37) totaled three runs and nine hits in the three-game series. The Yankees took five of six from their crosstown rivals this season, outscoring them 44-17, and handed the Mets their first sweep in 13 series at their spacious new home, Citi Field.
Now, the Mets play 17 of their next 23 on the road.
"We have to find a way to generate some offense," manager Jerry Manuel said. "I have to find it with what I have here."
Rivera entered with two on in the eighth and went to a full count on Omir Santos before throwing a called third strike. The right-hander pitched a one-hit ninth for his 18th save in 19 chances this season.
"He's the definition of consistency," Jeter said.
After the final out, the Yankees poured out of the dugout to hug Rivera near first base. Teixeira handed him the game ball, which he kept. He also signed a few balls for his teammates.
"Don't get me wrong, it's definitely special," said Rivera, who owns the postseason record with 34 saves. "My team fought hard to give me the opportunity to be there and I just tried to do my job. Really, all those 500 saves belong to my teammates."
Perhaps what is most remarkable: Rivera has enjoyed all this success while relying on one pitch for the most part — that searing cut fastball.
"I told him he's the best ever. The best I've seen. Nobody can even compare," Posada said.
The Yankees (43-32) matched a season high at 11 games over .500. Aided by third baseman Alex Rodriguez's fine defense all weekend, they produced their second series sweep of the Mets in Queens since interleague play began in 1997. The other came when the Yankees won all six meetings in 2003.
Hernandez fell to 0-4 in seven career starts against the Yankees.
Attendance was 41,315, the third record crowd in a row at Citi Field and the fifth sellout there overall.
OTHER LATE SCORES
Major League Soccer
LOS ANGELES 1, HOUSTON 0
Todd Dunivant scored in the 24th minute and the Los Angeles Galaxy ended the Houston Dynamo's 11-game unbeaten streak.
Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts earned his third shutout in the Galaxy's first league win at home over the Dynamo (8-3-4).
Dunivant scored his first goal in three years by using his left foot to deflect Mike Magee's 14-yard shot inside the right post from seven yards out.
Ricketts finished with three saves in his first shutout since May 2 for the Galaxy (3-3-9).
WNBA
LOS ANGELES 82, SEATTLE 65
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marie Ferdinand-Harris scored a season-high 15 points to lift short-handed Los Angeles past Seattle.
Playing their third game without injured three-time league MVP Lisa Leslie, five players scored in double-figure for Sparks (3-5). Betty Lennox had 14 points, Vanessa Hayden scored 12, DeLisha Milton-Jones 11 and Noelle Quinn 10 for the Sparks.
Los Angeles is also still without reigning MVP and Rookie of the Year Candace Parker, who is recovering after giving birth last month.
Lauren Jackson was held to nine points on 3-of-10 shooting for Seattle (6-3). Camille Little also had nine points for the Storm, who didn't have a single player score in double digits
