A look back at sports
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Sports pictures of the year
From a nail-biting pass at Superbowl XLIII to a bloody WBO World Welterwight fight, here's a look at the best sports photos of 2009. Slideshow
Angels' Rodriguez breaks Major League saves record
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Los Angeles Angels pitcher Francisco Rodriguez broke a Major League single-season record when he posted his 58th save in a 5-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.
Rodriguez, a 26-year-old right-hander from Venezuela, bettered the Major League mark set by the Chicago White Sox's Bobby Thigpen in 1990 and tied by Rodriguez on Thursday.
He pitched the final inning, striking out the final two batters with runners on second and third base.
"A lot of people back home have been rooting for me to break the record," Rodriguez told the MLB website (mlb.com). "It's very important for my people, my country, to get that record."
Rodriguez, who began his Major League career in 2002, now has 204 career saves.
"He's fearless," Angels manager Mike Scioscia told reporters. "I've been around a lot of good closers, but Frankie turns the page better than anyone I've seen.
"He's been as consistent as any pitcher I've seen. This has really been a magical year for Frankie, but he's been great his whole career."
(Writing by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Martin Petty)
