NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez returned to the infield, hugged a reception line of teammates and was handed the final ball from his final game with the New York Yankees. He walked to the area behind third base, leaned down and grabbed a handful of dirt.
Baseball's most notorious star of the last two decades then headed back to the dugout after a Yankee Stadium finale Friday night that included a pregame ceremony punctuated by thunder cracks and cut short by a downpour, a first-inning RBI double and a surprising ninth-inning return to third base.
A sellout crowd of 46,459 gave him standing ovations and chanted his name, admiration and perhaps even affection coming out after more than a decade of trouble and tension.
"I've given these fans a lot of headaches over the years and I've disappointed a lot of people," he said after the 6-3 victory over Tampa Bay, his hoarse voice sounding over the public-address system in one of baseball's most unusual farewells. "But like I've always said, you don't have to be defined by your mistakes. How you come back matters, too, and that's what New York's all about."
He will be cut Saturday by a Yankees team pivoting to youth. The 41-year-old designated hitter isn't sure whether he will play again (see full recap).
Schimpf, Padres drop Mets below .500
NEW YORK -- San Diego rookie Ryan Schimpf homered twice and drove in six runs as the Padres beat the reeling New York Mets 8-6 on Friday night.
Jabari Blash and Christian Bethancourt also homered early for the Padres, who handed the Mets their fourth straight defeat and sixth in seven games. The defending NL champions (57-58) fell below .500 for the first time since April 17.
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One day after getting swept at home by last-place Arizona, the Mets again failed to look like legitimate wild-card contenders. San Diego, which has alternated wins and losses since July 26, jumped out to a 5-0 six batters into the game -- including a grand slam by Schimpf.
Beneath a dark sky with lightning flashing, the Padres' lineup provided the thunder against New York starter Logan Verrett (3-8) (see full recap).
Braves earn first win in D.C. since 2014
WASHINGTON -- The Atlanta Braves used home runs from Jace Peterson, Freddie Freeman and Anthony Recker to beat the Nationals 8-5 on Friday night, snapping a 14-game losing streak in Washington.
Mike Foltynewicz (6-5) allowed four runs over 5 2-3 innings as Atlanta won for the 11th time in 17 games.
Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 13 tries.
Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg (15-3) struggled at home again, surrendering six runs in 5 1-3 innings. The National League leader in victories has a 9.00 ERA over 16 innings in his last three outings (all losses) at Nationals Park.
Atlanta had not won in Washington since Sept. 10, 2014, and was 0-6 against the NL East leaders this season. But they generated plenty of offense in the opener of a three-game series (see full recap).
