:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/40339252/456278450.0.jpg)
I think most Yankee fans' hope was that Derek Jeter's career would end with a World Series victory. Sadly that won't happen, but a victory over the Red Sox at Fenway isn't a bad second option. In his final at bat, Jeter hit an RBI single. It wasn't quite Thursday night, but it was a nice way to end his day. And as much as Jeter is the story, an excellent effort from Michael Pineda shouldn't be overlooked. Pineda was fantastic as the Yankees closed out the season with a 9-5 victory over the Red Sox.
In Jeter's first at bat in his final game, he made decent contact on a pitch, but Jemile Weeks made a nice leaping catch to rob Jeter of a hit.
In the top of the third, the Yankees opened the game's scoring. Francisco Cervelli led off the inning by drawing a walk. After Chris Young struck out, Jose Pirela singled. A wild pitch during the next at bat moved them both into scoring position. They would both score when Ichiro Suzuki ripped a triple into the Triangle in center. That brought Jeter back to the plate for his second at bat. He hit a high chopper down the third base line and made it to first without a throw as Ichiro scored. That would be the last action of his career as Brian McCann was sent in as a pinch-runner. That left the final hit count at 3,465.
Despite the outbreak of the feels that took over, the inning continued after that. Brett Gardner banged a double off the Green Monster, moving McCann to third. Mark Teixeira then flew out to center with McCann tagging up and scoring on the play. That made it 4-0 Yankees.
The Yankees tacked on a few more in the seventh inning. Cervelli and Young led off the inning with two-straight singles. Pirela then drove them both home with a double off the wall in left-center. The procession then continued with Eury Perez and John Ryan Murphy hitting two-straight singles, with Pirela scoring on the second. And then for fun, Austin Romine doubled off the Monster, scoring Perez. Teixeira hit a hard liner for the first out of the inning, but after that brief intermission, the hit parade continued. Chase Headley singled to make it 9-0.
With one out in the seventh, Allen Craig picked up a single, which would bring Pineda's day to an end. Big Mike was dominant, allowing one run on three hits and no walks, while striking out 10. Hopefully we can get a full year out of him in 2015. Esmil Rogers came in for Pineda and proceeded to walk Garin Cecchini and hit Rusney Castillo with a pitch. He struck out Bryce Brentz, but then allowed a bases-clearning double to Dan Butler, ruining Pineda's shutout. After Rogers walked Weeks, he was taken out. Adam Warren came in and proceeded to allow a double to Mookie Betts. That scored another two runs and suddenly it was 9-5. Ryan Lavarnway then grounded out to finally end the inning. Warren would come back out for the eighth inning, which went much more smoothly.
After the Yankees went down in order in the top of the ninth, David Phelps came out to pitch the ninth. Phelps pitched an easy 1-2-3 inning to finish off a 9-5 win for the Yankees.
And with that, the 2014 New York Yankees' season is over. The Yankees finish with a 84-78 record. And that also ends the illustrious career of Derek Jeter. It's been fun, Derek. We'll miss you.