End looms for Jeter as Yankees miss playoffs

Derek Jeter will bring the curtain down on his all-star MLB career at the end of the regular season after the New York Yankees were officially eliminated from post-season contention.
The retiring captain failed to get a hit in four at-bats for the Yankees, who were routed 9-5 by the Baltimore Orioles in the third game of a four-game series at the famed Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees had been clinging to faint playoff hopes for the past month but that defeat sealed their fate. This is the first time since 1992-93 that the Yankees have not participated in consecutive post-seasons.
The Yankees dropped to 81-77 on the season.
"It's a rough feeling -- it should be a rough feeling for everyone in here," said Jeter, 40. "We didn't play well enough. You put a lot of work into an offseason and see it as a good opportunity to go to the playoffs, and unfortunately we're not going."
Jeter, the Yankees' all-time leader in games played, times at bat, hits, doubles and stolen bases, is scheduled to play his final Major League Baseball game at Yankee Stadium on Thursday.
The Yankees' final three regular season games are Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox.
Jeter had his seven-game hitting streak snapped Wednesday in front of a crowd of 46,056.
"I've always appreciated what the fans have done," he said.
Nick Markakis and Ryan Flaherty each knocked in two runs during a six-run fourth inning for the Orioles, who finished with 15 hits.
Adam Jones and David Lough ended with two RBI apiece in the win. Nelson Cruz went four-for-five with an RBI and a run scored.
Baltimore starting pitcher Bud Norris allowed three runs on five hits while striking out nine over six innings. The right-hander won his fourth straight decision and improved to 4-0 lifetime against the Yankees.
Mark Teixeira, Chase Headley and Stephen Drew homered for the Yankees while pitcher Shane Greene surrendered six runs on seven hits with three walks over 3 2/3 innings.
Source: AFP