Wright walks off to long ovation in farewell game
NEW YORK » Much like the last few years of his truncated career, David Wright’s finale was no fairy tale at the plate. Adoration, appreciation, respect. Those were the tokens he took home.
Wright left to a long standing ovation before a sellout crowd at Citi Field in his farewell game for the New York Mets on Saturday night.
The team captain went 0 for 1 with a walk against the Miami Marlins and was removed after two plate appearances as planned. On defense, he handled a one-hopper to third base with no problem.
Wright, who fouled out to first base his final time up, took his position before the top of the fifth inning. Mets manager Mickey Callaway then came out of the dugout to make a lineup change, and Wright began his slow walk off the field.
As fans chanted his name and cheered for about 3 minutes, 15 seconds, Wright saluted them by touching the bill of his cap and patting his chest repeatedly. He went down the line and hugged all his teammates just in front of the Mets’ dugout, with Marlins players standing and applauding from across the field.
His stellar career cut short by injuries, the 35-year-old Wright completed an arduous comeback by returning to the majors this week for the first time since May 27, 2016. Unable to fully overcome his physical setbacks, he said he expects Saturday to be his last big league game. DODGERS 10, GIANTS 6 » Los Angeles clinched baseball’s final playoff berth and gave itself a chance to still win the NL West, getting a go-ahead triple from Manny Machado in the eighth inning and beating San Francisco.
The defending NL champions locked up their sixth straight trip to the postseason, assuring at least a spot in the wild-card game. CARDINALS 2, CUBS 1 » The Cubs wasted a solid performance by Cole Hamels, sending the NL Central race to the final day of the season.
The Cardinals kept alive their chance for a wild card, but were eliminated by the Dodgers’ victory at San Francisco.
YANKEES 8, RED SOX 5 » Gleyber Torres and Giancarlo Stanton connected as the Yankees broke the major league record for home runs in a season and reached 100 wins. ASTROS 4, ORIOLES 3» Justin Verlander struck out 10 in six scoreless innings, helping Houston take the opener of a doubleheader.
RAYS 4, BLUE JAYS 3 » C.J. Cron and Austin Meadows homered, powering Tampa Bay to the win.
REDS 3, PIRATES 0 » Michael Lorenzen singled home a run and got his first victory as a starter since 2015, helping Cincinnati snap its seven-game losing streak against Pittsburgh.