SEATTLE (AP) — Adrian Beltre was not ready to say Sunday was the final game of his career.Every other part of the day had the feel of a
farewell
http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-bo-jackson-jersey , and a celebration for one of the best third basemen ever.“I wanted to make sure
to enjoy it, do what you do and if this is it, this is it,” Beltre said. “It was
just not something I could say was defined, ‘This was my last game or my last
out, last groundball, last hit.’ But it could be. So it’s difficult to explain,
but I do not know how I feel.”Beltre and the Texas Rangers were shut down by
Seattle starter Roenis Elias in the Mariners’ 3-1 win on Sunday that closed out
the 2018 season. The day was overshadowed with what-ifs mostly about whether
Beltre will retire after 21 seasons, but also if Nelson Cruz will be back in
Seattle in 2019 with his contract up after the season.The majority of the focus
was on Beltre and the day had a feeling of finality for a career likely bound
for Cooperstown. Beltre played 4½ innings before being lifted before the bottom
of the fifth, given a standing ovation by the crowd of 21,146. Beltre went 1 for
2 and finished with a .273 average
http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-luis-aparicio-jersey , 15 homers and 65 RBIs.Like his demeanor for most of his career, Beltre had fun
should it be his final game. Beltre blooped a single to right leading off the
second inning. He was almost immediately doubled off when Joey Gallo’s liner was
caught by first baseman Ryon Healy. After he was called out, Beltre jogged to
the Mariners dugout railing and gave close friend Felix Hernandez a hug before
heading back to the Rangers dugout.Beltre had another humorous moment on the
final out of the fourth inning with runners on first and second. Ryon Healy
stopped running to third and retreated toward second base, but Beltre waved
Healy back toward third and tagged him for the final out.“Right before that
at-bat I thought this was perfect. I don’t have to throw, I don’t have to move.
If they hit it to me I’m going to stand in the line until they come over,”
Beltre said. “It happens and Healy … he was cool enough to come back to me and
let me tag him.”Beltre, who spent five seasons with the Mariners from 2005-09,
was given a standing ovation leading off the fifth inning as a “Thank You,
Adrian” message was shown on the video board. Beltre tipped his helmet to the
crowd before flying out to right field. Beltre took the field for the bottom of
the fifth and was replaced by Jurickson Profar, receiving hugs from all of his
teammates on the field and in the dugout.“It was emotional. I wasn’t expecting
that. They told me a couple of things that was deep and got me choked up a
little bit right there,” Beltre said.Beltre didn’t give a timeline for when he
would make a decision on his future but intended to take a little break before
making a choice.“I know how much the fans truly enjoyed his time here
http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-ozzie-guillen-jersey ,” Seattle’s Kyle Seger said. “Being the home player and watching a visiting player
get that type of ovation was pretty special.”OTHER FAREWELL?Cruz was replaced in
right field with one out in the top of the fourth inning by Ben Gamel. Cruz was
given a standing ovation as he jogged to the dugout in what could be his final
game with the Mariners. Cruz has been one of the best free agent signings in
Mariners history. Cruz, who turned 38 in July, hit .256 with 37 home runs and 97
RBIs this season. He hit 163 homers and had 414 RBIs in his four seasons with
Seattle.Cruz said he would like to be back.“Hopefully we can get something
done,” Cruz said.STARTING OFFThe blooper by Beltre was the only hit allowed by
Elias (3-1), who struck out four and walked none in a game that took just 2
hours, 14 minutes. David Freitas had an RBI double and Andrew Romine a
run-scoring single off Yovani Gallardo (8-8) in the second inning. Seager added
a sacrifice fly in the fifth.WIN TOTALSSeattle finished with 89 victories, its
most since 2003, but it was a hallow accomplishment after seeing the longest
playoff drought in any of the four major U.S. pro sports extended to 17 years.
The Mariners last made the postseason in 2001 and in the middle of June appeared
set to finally end that streak leading Oakland by 11 games in the wild-card
race. That lead disappeared quickly as Oakland caught Seattle by August and
raced past the Mariners over the final two months.After establishing the 11-game
lead, Seattle went 43-48 over the final 101 games.Texas finished last in the AL
West for the first time since 2014 and had consecutive losing seasons for the
first time since going four straight years under .500 from 2005-08. The 95
losses matched the most for Texas since losing 99 games in 1985. Texas was one
of eight teams to finish with at least 95 losses, a first in the major
leagues.HOMERS OVER HITSRangers slugger Joey Gallo finished with more home runs
(40) than singles (38). Gallo had 103 hits in 500 at-bats on the season. He
batted .206UP NEXTRangers: Texas opens on March 28 at home against the Chicago
Cubs.Mariners: Seattle starts on March 20 in Tokyo against Oakland. A look at
what’s happening around the majors today:WIN OR GO WILDIn a big league first, a
pair of tiebreaking Game 163s will be played on the same day to sort out the NL
playoff picture. First
Bill Melton Jersey , the Cubs host the Brewers to settle the NL Central at Wrigley Field. Then the Dodgers host the Rockies to determine an NL West
champ. The losers of those games will play Tuesday in the NL wild-card
game.Chicago will call on left-hander Jose Quintana (13-11, 4.09), who is 6-2
with a 1.60 ERA in 10 starts against Milwaukee. The Brewers are countering with
Jhoulys Chacin (15-8, 3.56). The Midwest rivals might not be done with each
other after Monday, either — the winner of the wild-card game will face the NL
Central champ in the NL Division Series. How about a rematch?Colorado is
attempting to end Los Angeles’ five-year reign atop the division and win its
first NL West crown. Walker Buehler (7-5, 2.76 ERA) gets the start for the
Dodgers, and the Rockies will counter with German Marquez (14-10, 3.76 ERA), who
struck out eight straight to begin his last start.TRIPLE THREAT?Brewers dynamo
Christian Yelich gets a final chance to claim the NL’s first Triple Crown since
1937. Yelich was 0 for 2 Sunday to end a 10-game hitting streak, though his .323
average is certain to remain tops in the NL. He enters Game 163 with 36 homers,
one back of Colorado’s Nolan Arenado for the home run lead
http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-robin-ventura-jersey , and his 109 RBIs are two shy of Chicago’s Javier Baez for that title. There has
not been a Triple Crown winner in the NL since Joe Medwick for the St. Louis
Cardinals. Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera in 2012 won the AL’s first Triple Crown
since Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.JOB OPENReds interim manager Jim
Riggleman will interview to lead Cincinnati full-time in 2019, though the club
may wait until the end of October to fill the position. Riggleman took over
after Bryan Price was fired following a 3-15 start, and the Reds went 64-80
under him. Among the other potential candidates, Hall of Fame shortstop Barry
Larkin has told the team he isn’t interested at this time.DECISION TIMEA few
longtime stars said seeming farewells Sunday amid uncertainty about their
futures, and this week might bring some clarity on whether they’ll keep playing.
Joe Mauer suited up at catcher for one more pitch with Minnesota in between
standing ovations, and Adrian Beltre got a nice cheer from fans in his former
home of Seattle when he was pulled midgame. Jose Reyes got a similar treatment
with the Mets, while Hunter Pence may also decide to hang it up after a touching
goodbye in San Francisco. None of those players confirmed they’re calling it
quits just yet, though.
