Jays end season with win in New York

NEW YORK — So long, Jose. Veteran right fielder Jose Bautista ended a spectacular career in less than spectacular fashion on Sunday.

Though Donaldson had a single and a sacrifice fly in his two atbats as designated hitter in the Jays 2-1 win over the Yankees, he ended the season with a .203 batting average.

That mark was the lowest in his career and the lowest single-season average in Jays history for a regular player. A game that meant nothing to either team, moved along briskly at Yankees Stadium, where the Twins will host an AL wildcard game on Tuesday.

The Jays finished the season with a record of 76-86, their lowest win total since 2013 following three consecutive winning seasons.

“It’s been a tough year, I feel that,” said Jays manager John Gibbons, who was given a two-year contract extension in spring training. “I’m responsible for everything that happens out there. It was a battle all year.

“Slow start. We battled all year to get back in it and just never could.”

The Jays were in last place in the AL East from opening day and didn’t reach the .500 mark once despite coming within one game nine times. Injuries were a big problem as the team never managed a winning streak of longer than five games.

“You fall behind so early, you expend a lot just to get back,” Gibbons said. “We just never could do it for whatever reason.”

It was hardly a high-flying win by the Jays, who managed just two hits with both runs scoring on sacrifices. Reliever Roberto Osuna pitched the ninth to earn his 39th save of the season.

Rob Longley, Postmedia Network