BOSTON (AP) ― The ball, marked and numbered for the occasion, bounced high off the dirt and down the third-base line, where a rookie who was 4 years old when Derek Jeter made his major league debut leaped into the air to attempt a barehanded play.

It went off of his palm and onto the grass, and by that time Jeter was safe at first with hit No. 3,465 ― the last of a career in which he established himself as the New York Yankees’ consummate captain and, for two decades, the face of baseball.

“It’s been a blessing,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said, holding back tears. “To play along with such a great player, to manage a guy that is what you want in every player, what you want every player to care about, what you want every player to fight for, what you want every player to do. It’s been a real blessing.”

Jeter bid baseball adieu on Sunday with an RBI single, a dugout full of hugs and a final wave to the fans, concluding his Hall of Fame career by helping the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 9-5.

Three days after an emotional farewell in New York, pinstripe-wearing fans filled Fenway Park for Jeter’s finale, chanting for him and the visiting Yankees and standing for each of his at-bats. After a hard line-drive out in the first inning, Jeter delivered his final hit as part of a four-run third inning, then left for a pinch runner and headed into retirement.

“I felt like the time was right,” Jeter said. “My emotions were so all over the place on Thursday in New York, and when I got here I was ready; I was ready for my career to be over with. I’m happy I had an opportunity to come up and play here a couple of games. I’m ready for this to be the end.” 

Athletics clinch playoff berth

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) ― The Oakland Athletics finally clinched their third consecutive playoff berth ― on the last day of the regular season after a prolonged slump.

Sonny Gray threw a six-hitter to win for the first time in five September starts, Josh Reddick had an RBI triple and Oakland beat the Texas Rangers 4-0 Sunday to clinch the American League’s second wild card.

The A’s lost 30 of their previous 45 games before winning game No. 162. They play the win-or-go-home wild-card game Tuesday night at Kansas City, which won five of the seven games in the season series against Oakland (88-74).

After winning the AL West title the past two seasons, Oakland went into its game Aug. 10 with a 72-44 record that was the best in the majors. That was good for a four-game lead in the AL West and an 11-game edge in the wild-card standings.

Adam Dunn, acquired by the A’s on Aug. 31, is going to the playoffs for the first time after playing his 2,001st career game ― the most by any active player before getting to the postseason.

Dunn is in his 14th season and has said he plans to retire after this season when his contract is set to expire. He waived his no-trade clause for the Chicago White Sox to complete the deal, and previously played for Cincinnati, Arizona and Washington.

Gray (14-10) was 12-3 at the end of July, but was 1-7 in his 11 previous starts before Sunday. The right-hander struck out five with no walks in his second career complete-game shutout, both this season against Texas. 


Zimmermann throws no-hitter

WASHINGTON (AP) ― One out away from pitching the Washington Nationals’ first no-hitter, Jordan Zimmermann watched his 104th pitch on a crisp, clear Sunday afternoon get smacked toward deep left-center.

Zimmermann leaned his head back and winced. His first thought: “Double. No-doubt double.”

“And then,” the right-hander said later, “he comes out of nowhere and makes that catch.”

Thanks to a dramatic, diving grab by little-used rookie Steven Souza Jr., who came on as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning, Zimmermann completed his gem, a 1-0 victory for the NL East champion Nationals over the Miami Marlins.

“I thought there was no way this would ever happen. My career numbers are something like one hit per inning, so I figure if I can make it out of the first, the hit’s coming in the second,” said the 28-year-old Zimmermann, a quiet guy who was a second-round draft pick in 2007 out of Division III University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. “But today was one of those special days.”

Almost morphed into a one-hitter, though. With two outs in the ninth and a 2-1 count, Marlins leadoff man Christian Yelich turned on a 94 mph fastball over the plate.

Souza was shaded well over toward the left-field line at a coach’s prompting.

“He probably couldn’t have been more out of position,” said right fielder Jayson Werth, who watched it all unfold from what became a nearly silent home dugout.

“I was just thinking to myself, ‘It is not optimal to be Steven Souza right now,’ because as soon as you come into the game, every time, the ball’s going to find you,” Werth said.

Cleveland 7, Tampa Bay 2

Baltimore 1, Toronto 0

Detroit 3, Minnesota 0

Cincinnati 4, Pittsburgh 1

NY Mets 8, Houston 3

Atlanta 2, Philadelphia 1

Kansas City 6, Chicago White Sox 4

Chicago Cubs 5, Milwaukee 2

San Francisco 9, San Diego 3

Seattle 4, LA Angels 1

LA Dodgers 10, Colorado 5

St. Louis 1, Arizona 0