BOSTON (AP) ― Derek Jeter sped down the first-base line for a chop single over the pitcher’s head.

His 3,464th hit may have been the last play ― and injury ― of his career.

“He probably felt it a little bit in his hamstring,” New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said after Saturday’s 10-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox. “He didn’t say he was injured, but we’ll see.”

Jeter said before the series that he would be the designated hitter on Saturday and Sunday to finish his 20-year career, but Girardi said, “I’ll text him in the morning and see what he wants to do.”

Jeter walked out of the clubhouse without a noticeable limp and, of course, would have plenty of time to recover. He didn’t talk with reporters.

Girardi said he planned to give Jeter just two at-bats and lifted him for a pinch hitter in the fifth inning after he went 1 for 2.

Boston chased Masahiro Tanaka (13-5) during an eight-run second inning that backed Joe Kelly (4-2). Tanaka made a windmill motion with his right arm as he left the mound in what at times can be a sign of elbow trouble, but Girardi and pitching coach Larry Rothschild said he was healthy.

Tanaka allowed seven runs ― five earned ― in 1 2/3 innings, the shortest of his 20 starts with the Yankees. He pitched 5 1/3 innings last Sunday in his return from 2 1-2 months out while rehabilitating a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

“Sometimes the second time out is a little different, getting back into the flow of everything,” pitching coach Larry Rothschild said.

After sitting out Friday night’s series opener following his emotional Yankee Stadium finale the previous night, Jeter returned to his usual second spot in the lineup but as the designated hitter, not the shortstop. He received standing ovations before each at-bat as fans chanted “De-rek Je-ter! De-rek Je-ter!”

He struck out on three pitches in the first ― a called strike on the outside corner, a foul down the first base line and a swing. In the third, he hit a high bouncer over Kelly’s head. 


M’s stay in playoff chase

SEATTLE (AP) ― The Seattle Mariners stayed in the AL playoff race Saturday night, forcing the chase down to the final day when Austin Jackson barely beat a double-play relay in the 11th inning to edge the Los Angeles Angels 2-1.

The Mariners moved within one game of Oakland for the second AL wild-card spot. The A’s lost 5-4 at Texas.

Seattle ace Felix Hernandez will start against the AL West champion Angels on Sunday, the last scheduled day of the regular season.

Brad Miller hit a one-out double in the Seattle 11th off Mike Morin (4-4) and Chris Taylor’s short fly to center fell in for a single, sending Miller to third.

Jackson, who had twice previously been the third out in innings when Seattle stranded runners on third, hit a grounder to second.

The Angels got the forceout at second, but the relay throw was a shade late as the speedy Jackson crossed the bag. Miller raised his arms as he scored the winning run.

Dominic Leone (8-2) pitched the 11th to earn the win.

Seattle entered the game needing to win its final two games and Oakland to lose its final two in order to tie for the second AL wild-card spot and force a one-game playoff Monday.

The Athletics’ loss in Texas finished at nearly the same moment as Seattle tied the game at 1 on Logan Morrison’s RBI double in the seventh.

Cincinnati 10, Pittsburgh 6

Washington 5, Miami 1

San Francisco 3, San Diego 1

Toronto 4, Baltimore 2

Tampa Bay 2, Cleveland 0

Atlanta 4, Philadelphia 2

Minnesota 12, Detroit 3

Chicago 5, Kansas City 4

Milwaukee 2, Chicago Cubs 1

NY Mets 2, Houston 1

Texas 5, Oakland 4

Arizona 5, St. Louis 2

LA Dodgers 6, Colorado 5