It's Rivera, the hitters aren't going up there trying to hit home runs. If Rivera had his typical location and movement, which you've acknowledged he was lacking both of, he would not have given up 4 hits and gotten bailed out on a line drive that likely would have plated the winning run. Just look at where he was throwing the ball.
http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/cache/location.php-pitchSel=121250&game=gid_2011_07_24_oakmlb_nyamlb_1&batterX=&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=.gif