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Brewers: 3 observations from a rainy day Monday in Pittsburgh

By Phil Watson

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Jun 8, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez (57) and catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) high-five after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The Brewers won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

K-Rod passes mentor on saves list

Francisco Rodriguez moved past former Anaheim Angels teammate Troy Percival into ninth place on baseball’s all-time saves list Monday night when he picked up career save No. 359.

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    • Rodriguez came to the majors as a set-up man for Percival in 2002, pitching in five regular-season games before being placed on the Angels’ postseason roster and going 5-1 in 11 appearances, striking out 28 batters in 18.2 innings and earning the nickname “K-Rod” that has stuck with him throughout his career.

    The combination of Rodriguez and Percival helped Anaheim capture its first and only World Series title in franchise history.

    Percival had 40 saves that season for the Angels and picked up seven more in the postseason. He had 358 saves in a 14-year career from 1995-09 with the Angels, Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.

    Rodriguez says Percival played a huge part in the success he’s had in his career.

    “This is the guy who took all the time in the world to make sure I was ready to take over as a closer,” Rodriguez told MLB.com of Percival. “To me, it means a lot. Hopefully wherever he is, he’ll feel proud of me and know that he didn’t waste his time with me.”

    K-Rod took over as the Angels closer full-time in 2005 and led the American League in saves in 2005 and 2006 before putting together a MLB-record 62-save campaign in 2008.

    He re-emerged as an All-Star closer last season, posting 44 saves for the Brewers—more than he had in 2011-13 combined (36).

    This season, Rodriguez has a 1.29 ERA and 0.857 WHIP in 21 innings, converting all 11 of his save opportunities thus far.

    Next up for K-Rod: Jeff Reardon, who saved 367 games in a 16-year career with the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees from 1979-94.

    Next: Tuesday’s Probables

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