Game-winning hit fitting Yankee Stadium farewell for Derek Jeter
The perfect script. Derek Jeter capped his Yankee Stadium farewell with a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning, the latest – and perhaps last – storybook moment in his charmed and illustrious career, to give New York a 6-5 victory on Thursday night over the Baltimore Orioles.
Serenaded with adoring chants that echoed through the Bronx night, Jeter tipped his cap several times at shortstop and drove in three runs. He launched an early double off the left-centre wall and saved the best for last, a sharp, opposite-field single to right that knocked in the winning run.
It was above and beyond anything that I’ve ever dreamed of
During the raucous celebration that followed, Jeter said he’s played his final game at shortstop, but he’ll likely play in some capacity this weekend in Boston.
It appeared Jeter’s tiebreaking grounder in the seventh would be the swing that sent the Yankees to a victory when they built a 5-2 cushion against the AL East champions.
Nope, he’s always had a flair for the most electrifying kind of drama, and this night was destined to be no different.
As if it was planned all along, closer David Robertson (4-5) gave up a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to Adam Jones and a tying shot to Steve Pearce with two outs.
