Suzyn Waldman interviews Mariano Rivera on Yankee pregame, 9/17/07

Suzyn Waldman asks Mariano Rivera about being hit by a ball thrown by Eric Gagne last night. Gagne threw the ball from the Red Sox bullpen just prior to Rivera's 9th inning appearance in a game the Yankees needed desperately.

• Suzyn mentions the 'stories going around today about Rivera being hit by a ball thrown by Gagne' but says the ball hit him on a finger. (The NY Post reports said he was hit on the elbow).

Mariano says yes, he was surprised, expressed no anger of course, but said he (Gagne) "hit me good." He said his finger went numb, that he had no feeling in it when he pitched, but wrote it off saying, "It happens."

• Suzyn notes the bullpens at Fenway Park are 'very close.' Asked Rivera how he felt today, and he said fine, no problem. Whatever did or didn't happen, Mo won't make a big deal about it. We saw that in the 2004 post season when his relatives were tragically killed and it was thought Rivera might not be able to pitch at all in the 2004 post season.

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