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| Jeter capped off a great career. Photo Credit: Brad Penner/ USA Today Sports |
Derek Jeter delivered another signature moment in his 20-year illustrious career in New York Yankee pinstripes with a walk-off single in the 9th inning last night giving the Yankees a 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles which marked Jeter’s last home game at Yankee Stadium.
By: Sunil Sunderraj
Designated hitter Jose Pirela led off the bottom of the 9th with a single to left field. Brett Gardner followed with a sac bunt moving Pirela to second base. Antoan Richardson pinch ran for Pirela.
Before stepping into the batter’s box for his final at bat at Yankee Stadium Jeter received another thunderous standing ovation. On the first pitch from Orioles pitcher Evan Meek, Jeter patented opposite field base hit to right field brought Richardson in from second base for the game winning run.
As Jeter reached the middle of the infield he was mobbed by fellow teammates. Former manager Joe Torre along with teammates from the championship years Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez waited by the Yankees dugout to embrace Jeter.
Jeter walked around the infield saluting the crowd with the tip of his cap before going out to his shortstop position to kneel down. Frank Sinatra’s song “My Way” playing over the speaker system.
New York closer David Robertson came in to pitch the top of the 9th inning and served up a two-run blast from Adam Jones cutting the Yankees lead to 5-4. Next stepped up Steve Pearce who belted a two-out solo shot tying the game up at 5-5.
In the bottom of the 7th, Ichiro Suzuki led off with a walk. Pirela reached safely on a sac bunt as the throw from catcher Caleb Joseph was wide of the bag at first base. Jeter hit a slow roller to J.J. Hardy who threw wildly past second base plating two runs as the Yankees took a 4-2 lead.
As the Bleacher Creatures were serenading Derek Jeter with the roll call in the top of the 1st inning Nick Markakis clubbed a solo homer to the second deck in right field. Alejandro De Aza followed with another solo shot to the first row of seats in right center field giving the Orioles a quick 2-0 lead.
However, the Yankees answered back in the top of the 1st inning as Brett Gardner led off with a base hit to right field. Jeter in his first at bat of the night received a monstrous ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd who chanted “Derek Jeter” Jeter walloped a double off the middle of the left field wall bringing in Gardner all the way from first base for New York’s first run of the game.
Jeter advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Brian McCann smacked a hit to shallow right field that Baltimore second baseman Kelly Johnson was unable to handle as Jeter crossed home plate tying up the game at 2-2.
Hideki Kuroda was on top of his game. By the top of the 5th inning, Kuroda had struck out three out of the last four hitters while retiring seven Orioles in a row.
Equally impressive Baltimore starting pitcher Kevin Gausman who struck out five Yankee hitters and eighteen in a row entering the bottom of the 6th inning.
New York clinched its 22nd consecutive winning season. The last time Derek Jeter had a walk-off hit was back in 2007. Kuroda went 8 innings striking out nine hitters while yielding two runs on three hits. The Yankees wrap up the 2014 season with a three game series in Boston.
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