ALL-STAR NOTEBOOK

updated 2:38 a.m. ET July 16, 2008

NEW YORK - The bullpen gates in left-center field opened, “Enter Sandman” blared over the Yankee Stadium loudspeakers and out came Mariano Rivera to an overwhelming ovation and a crackle of thousands of camera flashes.

With the score tied 3-all and a runner on first in the ninth inning Boston manager Terry Francona did what he suggested he would, he called on the mainstay of the Yankees’ bullpen to do what he’s done so many times from this mound: help his team wriggle out of one more jam.

While it didn’t go quite to the script that many had hoped for — Rivera closing out the final All-Star game at the storied stadium — he did not disappoint, reviving the pregame Yankees celebration with 1 2-3 scoreless innings in the AL’s 4-3, 15-inning victory.

After squelching the ninth-inning rally with a strikeout-caught stealing, Rivera worked the 10th and gave up two hits to put runners on first and third. He then got Dan Uggla to ground into an inning-ending double play.

“Definitetly it was good,” Rivera said even though he wasn’t pitching in a save situation. “This one was top of the line.”

Rivera then stood on the top step and leaned on the railing of the AL — Yankees — dugout with Derek Jeter and watched the 11th inning. Alex Rodriguez, along with other starters already out of the game, had left not long after he was removed with one out in the fifth, dressed spiffily in a suit.

Rivera was warmed up by his manager and former catcher Joe Girardi, who also got Rivera’s Boston counterpart, Jonathan Paplebon, ready in the Yankees bullpen for his eighth-inning appearance. Paplebon gave up an unearned run to give the NL a 3-2 lead.

Rivera said that he knew he was going to pitch the ninth, even though he couldn’t tell the media.

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“I knew a few days,” he said. “I couldn’t tell you that. (Francona) didn’t tell me specifically. My manager did.”

Earlier in the evening, Rivera was feted along with Jeter and Rodriguez in a pregame that felt like a Yankees celebration.

The “Bleacher Creatures” in right-center field regaled them with the usual chants of their names. Rivera heard “Mar-iano!” as he was introduced with the pitchers.

Then Rivera caught one of four ceremonial first pitches from Yankees Hall-of-Famers, who were given the baseballs by George Steinbrenner, as part of a tribute to the frail 78-year-old team owner.

“It was priceless seeing our boss coming onto the field like that,” Rivera said

OLD AGE
Billy Wagner heard it from all sides.

Giants reliever Brian Wilson talked about admiring the New York Mets closer when he was playing in college. Braves star Chipper Jones made sure Wagner knew he was the oldest All-Star on the National League team.

“I gotta make myself feel better that I’m not the oldest one here,” Jones said.

Wagner, who turns 37 on July 25, actually was the oldest player on either roster for Tuesday night’s All-Star game at Yankee Stadium. Not that it mattered to him.

“I think over the long haul you look and go, ’Man, I’ve been here for a while and I’m still here,”’ he said. “It starts to be a compliment more than somebody kind of saying something negative.”

Wagner had 22 saves and a 2.31 ERA in the first half, earning his second straight All-Star selection and sixth overall. He was looking forward to talking shop with the rest of the relievers in the bullpen.

He relieved Wilson in the eighth inning with two outs and gave up two hits, including the tying, run-scoring double to Evan Longoria to make it 3-all.

Wagner also has big plans for Wednesday night — a trip to the White House to have dinner with President Bush. “Still wondering how that came about,” he cracked.

Jones, the third-oldest player in the game behind Boston catcher Jason Varitek, also was enjoying his first All-Star appearance since 2001.

“Last time I was one of the youngest,” the 36-year-old Jones said before signing a jersey for Colorado’s Matt Holliday. “Crazy.”

Jones went 1-for-3 with a single in the second.

HOTEL GUEST
Josh Hamilton awoke the day after his dreamlike performance in the Home Run Derby and turned on the TV in his hotel room in midtown Manhattan and found the end of the movie “The Natural” playing.

Just then he received a visitor. It was time for a random drug test.

“Right when (Robert Redford’s character) was about to hit the home run, the pee guy came in,” Hamilton said. “I said, ’Hold on. I’ve got to watch this.”’

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