BOSTON -- Goodbye Derek Jeter and goodbye 2014.
The Red Sox closed the book on their disappointing season with a 9-5 loss to the New York Yankees Sunday afternoon. The loss dropped their record to 71-91, 20 games under .500.
Naturally, Jeter was the primary focus all afternoon as the Yankees shortstop ended his career going 1-for-2 with an RBI. He lined to short in his first at-bat before knocking in a run with an infield single in the third and being removed for a pinch runner. Jeter received a standing ovation from the fans and both teams on his way into the dugout, where he hugged his teammates and spent the remainder of the game.
Clay Buchholz had the honor of being the last pitcher to face Jeter as he went six innings, allowing four runs on five hits in his 11th loss of the season. Buchholz ended the season with a 5.34 ERA.
He was followed out of the bullpen by Craig Breslow, who gave up five consecutive hits without getting an out in a disastrous end to his disastrous season. All five runs came around to score as Breslow’s ERA jumped from 5.13 to 5.96.
The Red Sox answered the Yankees' five-run seventh by scoring five runs in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by a Dan Butler double with the bases loaded that gave the catcher the first two RBIs of his career. A third run came around to score on the play after Yankees outfielder Eury Perez committed an error.
Mookie Betts also had a strong day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a stolen base. He ended his rookie season hitting .291 with five home runs and 18 RBIs.
Attendance for the finale was 36,879, the Red Sox’s 43rd sellout of the season. Fenway Park drew 2,956,089 fans this season, the second consecutive year under three million after five straight years over that mark.
