Jeter's final home script calls for walk-off single

NEW YORK -- The perfect script.

Derek Jeter capped his Yankee Stadium farewell with a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning, the latest storybook moment in a charmed and illustrious career, to give New York a 6-5 victory Thursday night over the Baltimore Orioles.

Serenaded with adoring chants that echoed through the Bronx night, Jeter tipped his cap several times at shortstop and drove in three runs. He launched an early double off the wall and saved the best for last -- a sharp, opposite-field single to right that knocked in the winning run.

It appeared Jeter's tiebreaking grounder in the seventh would be the swing that sent the Yankees to a win when they built a 5-2 cushion against the AL East champions.

Not bad -- but not Jeter.

Nope, he's always had a flair for the most electrifying kind of drama -- and this night was destined to be no different.

As if it was planned all along, closer David Robertson gave up a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to Adam Jones and a tying shot to Steve Pearce with two outs.

That only set the stage for Jeter one more time.

Jose Pirela hit a leadoff single in the bottom half against Evan Meek (0-4) and advanced on Brett Gardner's sacrifice. Jeter lined the next pitch through a wide hole on the right side, and pinch-runner Antoan Richardson slid home ahead of Nick Markakis' throw.

Pirates 10, Braves 1

ATLANTA -- Edinson Volquez threw seven scoreless innings, Travis Snider and Neil Walker hit homers and the Pittsburgh Pirates moved within one game of the NL Central lead.

Pittsburgh, only one game behind first-place St. Louis in the division, will close its regular season with a three-game series at Cincinnati. The Pirates clinched a playoff spot Tuesday night.

The Pirates won three of four from the reeling Braves. St. Louis, which did not play Thursday night, closes its regular season with a weekend series at Arizona.

Volquez (13-7) set a season high with 10 strikeouts.

Royals 6, White Sox 3

CHICAGO -- Eric Hosmer homered and drove in two runs, Lorenzo Cain had four hits and scored twice, and the Kansas City Royals put themselves on the verge of a playoff spot.

One more win for Kansas City, or a loss by Seattle, will send the Royals to the postseason for the first time since George Brett led them to a championship in 1985. Kansas City remained two games behind Detroit in the AL Central and moved one up on Oakland in the wild card standings.

-- From wire reports