Mariano Rivera se rompe ligamento de la rodilla y su carrera está en peligro (FOTOS)

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• New York Yankees v Tampa Bay Rays

  ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 23: Pitcher Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees pitches the ninth inning for the save against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on April 23, 2013 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

• New York Yankees v Tampa Bay Rays

  ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 23: Relief pitcher Mariano Rivera #42 of the Tampa Bay Rays stretches just before the start of the game against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field on April 23, 2013 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

• Mariano Rivera

  New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera, right, talks to veterans and their families before a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Tuesday, April 23, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Rivera plans on talking to veterans and their families at every ballpark the Yankees play in this season. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

• Mariano Rivera, Chris Stewart

  New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera, left, shakes hands with catcher Chris Stewart after closing out the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 23, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Yankees won the game 4-3. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

• Mariano Rivera

  New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera delivers in the ninth inning to the Tampa Bay Rays during a baseball game Tuesday, April 23, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

• Marianio Rivera

  New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera throws in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium in New York, Thursday, April 25, 2013. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 5-3. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

• Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees

  NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 26: Mariano Rivera #42 and Ichiro Suzuki #31 of the New York Yankees celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on April 26, 2013 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

• Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees

  NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 26: Mariano Rivera #42 and Chris Stewart #19 of the New York Yankees celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on April 26, 2013 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

• Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees

  NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Mariano Rivera #42 and Chris Stewart #19 of the New York Yankees celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on April 28, 2013 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

• Mariano Rivera, Chris Stewart

  New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera, right, and catcher Chris Stewart react after they defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 in a baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, Friday, April 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

• Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees

  NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on April 28, 2013 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

• Lyle Overbay, Mariano Rivera

  New York Yankees first baseman Lyle Overbay (55) celebrates a 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays with relief pitcher Mariano Rivera (42) after a baseball game at Yankee Stadium, Sunday, April 28, 2013, in New York. Overbay hit a two-run home run during the game. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

• Mariano Rivera

  New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera closes against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning of a baseball game at Yankee Stadium, Sunday, April 28, 2013, in New York. The Yankees won 3-2. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

• Mariano Rivera

  CORRECTS TO AUG. 29, - New York Yankees' pitcher Mariano Rivera takes a photo before the start of of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012 at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Yankees' closer is on the disabled list. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

• Mariano Rivera, Petr Cech, David Luiz

  New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, left, greets Chelsea FC's Petr Cech (1) and David Luiz, right, after their soccer training session in East Rutherford, N.J., Saturday, July. 21, 2012. Chelsea will face Paris Saint-Germain in a friendly soccer game at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

• Mariano Rivera, Mariano Rivera Jr.

  New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, right, accompanied by his son, Mariano Rivera Jr., bangs the gavel after ringing the New York Stock Exchange opening bell, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. U.S. stocks are mostly falling on disappointing earnings reports from big companies. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

• Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera

  Injured New York Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera, right, embraces former Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams (51) during Yankees Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium in New York, Sunday, July 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

• Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera, Darryl Strawberry

  Injured New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, center, greets former Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams, left, and former Yankees outfielder Darryl Strawberry, right, during Yankees Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium in New York, Sunday, July 1, 2012. Rivera was not part of the game but came out to greet former players. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

• Mariano Rivera

  New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who suffered a season-ending knee injury shagging fly balls in the outfield before the Yankees' baseball game against the Kansas City Royals last week, speaks to reporters in New York, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

• APTOPIX Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, center, grimaces after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was later carted off the field and sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera is carted off the field after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, right, is being carted off the field after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, left, lies on the field after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was carted off the field and sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• APTOPIX Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera lies on the field after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was carted off the field and sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, center right, helps Mariano Rivera, center, into a cart after Rivera twisted his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• APTOPIX Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, center, grimaces after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was later carted off the field and sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, right, helps Mariano Rivera, top center, after Rivera twisted his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was carted off the field and sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• Yankees Rivera Baseball

  FILE - In this file photo taken April 9, 2012, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera sits in the dugout before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore. The Yankees closer was carted off the field after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice, Thursday, May 3, 2012, and was sent for further tests. Baseball's career saves leader was hurt before the Yankees played at Kansas City. Rivera was examined by Royals associate physician Dr. Joe Noland and Yankees trainers, and was set for an MRI at KU MedWest. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, file)

KANSAS CITY, Misurí, EE.UU. (AP) — Mariano Rivera corrió hacia el muro de los jardines, en busca de un elevado, como lo había hecho en las prácticas de bateo numerosas veces durante dos décadas, con una alegría casi infantil.

Pero en un parpadeo, todo cambió para el mejor cerrador en la historia de las Grandes Ligas.

El panameño de los Yanquis de Nueva York, 12 veces electo para el Juego de Estrellas, pisó mal en la tierra de la franja de advertencia. La rodilla se le dobló antes de que el taponero se estrellara contra el muro.

Rivera cayó, haciendo una mueca de dolor, mientras su compañero Alex Rodríguez murmuraba, "¡Dios mío!", a unos 120 metros (400 pies) de distancia.

El coach de los relevistas Mike Harkey fue el primero en llegar al lugar donde estaba Rivera, y pidió a quienes estaban en la cueva que acudieran para ayudar al lanzador. El manager Joe Girardi había observado la escena desde detrás de la caja de bateo y corrió por la línea de la antesala, hacia el relevista lesionado.

"Por la forma en que cayó, lo primero que pensé fue que se había roto un ligamento", dijo Girardi después.

El diagnóstico fue correcto.

Rivera sufrió una ruptura del ligamento cruzado anterior y del menisco el jueves, de acuerdo con un análisis realizado mientras los Yanquis caían por 4-3 ante los Reales de Kansas City. Es probable que la lesión ponga fin a la temporada de Rivera, pero también a su carrera, lo que marcaría un final triste en la trayectoria de uno de los serpentineros más reconocidos en la historia.

"La situación no es buena, pero insisto en que hemos pasado antes por esto. Esta es una nueva prueba", dijo Rivera, mientras hacía una pausa para serenarse en el camerino de los Yanquis. "El dolor mental es más importante que el físico. Siento como si hubiera decepcionado a mi equipo".

Rivera, de 42 años, ha dicho que no decidirá sino hasta después de la campaña si abandona su carrera, luego de 18 años en las mayores. Y aunque Girardi confió en que el líder histórico de salvamentos vuelva al montículo, las palabras de Rivera dieron a entender que el retiro es bastante posible.

"En este punto, no lo sé", dijo Rivera en voz baja. "Primero tengo que enfrentar esto. Todo depende de la forma en que se lleve a cabo la rehabilitación. Después ya veremos".

La lesión pesó sobre los Yanquis durante todo el encuentro. Nueva York tuvo la carrera del empate en tercera en la novena entrada, pero Rodríguez fue sacado de out en un machucón para bajar el telón.

Después del partido, lo único importante para A-Rod era Rivera.

"Lo vi todo", comentó el hijo de dominicanos. "Es difícil hablar de eso esta noche. Mo ha significado tanto para nosotros a nivel personal, y también su importancia en el terreno, en el montículo. Pero, a fin de cuentas, somos los Yanquis de Nueva York y nadie se va a lamentar por nosotros".

Sin embargo, la sensación hacia Rivera es distinta. El panameño es uno de los jugadores más duraderos en la historia de las mayores y es difícil encontrar a alguien a quien no le agrade o no lo respete.

Eso, sin contar con sus 608 rescates y cinco anillos de Serie Mundial.

"Estamos hablando de alguien que hizo algo sin precedentes", comentó el capitán de los Yanquis, Derek Jeter.

Jeter recordó que Rivera lleva "más de 20 años" atrapando elevados en los jardines, y el torpedero indicó que nunca pensó que el cerrador se pudiera lastimar haciéndolo.

"Esa es su manera de mantenerse en forma. Siempre está fildeando elevado", señaló Jeter. "De todas formas, parece un jardinero central. Fue algo extraño, no hay otra forma de explicarlo".

Girardi también defendió la decisión de Rivera de atrapar elevados en la práctica de bateo, y destacó que el relevista no ha estado en la lista de lesionados desde 2003.

"Hay lesiones extrañas, y esta es una de ellas", expresó Girardi. "Hay que permitirle ser un atleta y un pelotero y que se divierta en el terreno. Nunca he visto a Mo hacer algo peligroso, ni he visto a Mo tirarse para tratar de robar un jonrón. Esa es su forma de ejercitarse".

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