He now has pitched in 771 major-league games and recorded 341 saves in his 14-year career.

But Boston Red Sox closer Jeff Reardon can still pour in the fastball with a little extra on it if he has to.Going to the gas Saturday was the way Reardon earned save number 341, which tied him with Rollie Fingers for the career save record. He fired a fastball past Candy Maldonado with two on and two out in the bottom of the ninth preserving a 5-2 triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays.

"I had thrown a couple good curve balls, and he had fouled them off," Reardon said. "I know he's a good fastball hitter, so gave it everything I had on that pitch. If he had hit it, it might have been a tie game, but I did put a little extra on that one."

Reardon is 14 for 15 in save

See REARDON on D2

chances this season after setting a team record with 40 saves (in 49 opportunities) last year.

The 36-year-old right-hander from Dalton, Mass., is fully aware he has earned a place in the record books.

"I'm real proud," he said. "It's a record. It's something I've been working for. I'm really looking forward to the next one. That will be the big one."

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He knows some consider the record tainted because the save rule has been loosened.

"Saves are different now. I was on both ends of it. I got half my saves like Rollie got his, and half like other guys are getting them now. I know some guys are getting 40 and 50 now and the record will probably be broken, but I want to get as many as I can."

"I played with Jeff in Montreal when he was getting saves over there," said teammate Joe Hesketh, the winning pitcher Saturday. "He was more of a challenger then. I think he's more of a pitcher now.

"He's mixing his changeup to keep hitters off balance."

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