Derek Jeter, in Fitting Farewell, Drives In Winning Run - NYTimes.com

Derek Jeter, center, made his final appearance at Yankee Stadium, and won the game against Baltimore in his final at-bat. CreditBarton Silverman/The New York Times

It
was the only way it could have ended, this remarkable 20-season career that was
forged on clutch moments across years of winning. With the eyes of a city and a
sport upon him, Derek Jeter smacked the winning hit in the final at-bat of his
final home game.

The ball squirted into
right field, pushing home Antoan Richardson with one out in the ninthinning to give the Yankees a 6-5 victory over
the Baltimore Orioles. Jeter thrust both hands into the air as if he had just
won a playoff game, and he was met on the basepaths by his onrushing teammates
to celebrate the 1,627th regular-season victory of his career.

“From the all-time low to the all-time high,” said David
Robertson, the Yankees’ closer, who blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning
to set up the fairy-tale ending.

When the congratulations were over, and with the Orioles
standing in their dugout watching, Jeter went out to his position at shortstop
for a solitary moment of reflection before he revealed in an on-field interview
what his thoughts were as he came to the plate with the score tied and a runner
on second base in the bottom of the ninth.