Yankees say farewell

After all those championships in this celebrated place, all those unforgettable moments, the New York Yankees weren’t about to be knocked out of the playoff race on a night like this.

Mariano Rivera finished what Babe Ruth started 85 years ago, and New York bid farewell to fabled Yankee Stadium with a 7-3 victory over Baltimore on Sunday night that prevented postseason elimination — at least for a day.

Derek Jeter was lifted with two out in the ninth and jogged off the field to a raucous cheer before coming out for a curtain call.

A loss would have officially ended New York’s run of 13 straight playoff appearances, and a Boston win today against Cleveland would still do the trick.

But on a beautiful Bronx night dripping with history and nostalgia, the Yankees refused to ruin the grand festivities.

Johnny Damon and Jose Molina homered to back Andy Pettitte (14-14), a fitting winner after he helped pitch New York to four World Series titles and six A.L. pennants from 1996-2003.

Joba Chamberlain worked 1 2/3 hitless innings and Rivera closed out the final regular-season home game before New York moves next year into a $1.3 billion palace rising across the street.

So it ended as it should have, after the Babe opened the ballpark on April 18, 1923, with a home run in a 4-1 victory over the Red Sox that sent the Yankees on their way to the first of a record 26 World Series championships.

New York finished 4,133-2,430-17 at Yankee Stadium, originally built in 284 days for $2.5 million. It was the first sports venue to be called a stadium, the team noted.

The 65-minute pregame ceremony began with a recorded message from 90-something public address announcer Bob Sheppard, who has missed this season while recuperating from illness. Sheppard, who took the job in 1951, said he hopes to return next year at the new ballpark.

Players from both teams stood on the top step of the dugout to watch as Yankees stars from yesteryear were introduced one by one. They took their positions, donning old-style, off-white uniforms.

Yogi Berra was fully dressed by 5:30 p.m., belt fastened and stirrups showing.

“They said this was the kind of uniform we played in. I don’t remember getting this one,” he said, drawing laughs.

Berra was one of six Hall of Famers on the field. Family members stood in for the greats who are gone, such as Phil Rizzuto, Thurman Munson, Elston Howard and Roger Maris.

Don Larsen, who pitched a perfect game here in the 1956 World Series, scooped dirt from the mound into a plastic cup, assisted by Whitey Ford.

Then the Yankees starters from Sunday night joined the former stars at their positions. Julia Ruth Stevens, 92-year-old daughter of the Babe, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to injured catcher Jorge Posada. Berra voiced over a salute to the old ballyard and it was finally time to play ball.

“Only this time when it’s over, it’s over,” Berra said.

A.L. highlights

Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 0: David Ortiz hit a two-run homer, Daisuke Matsuzaka remained unbeaten on the road and the Boston beat the Blue Jays in Toronto on Sunday to clinch at least a tie for the AL wild card. Boston (91-64) needs one more win or a New York loss to secure its fifth playoff berth in six seasons. New York hosts Baltimore in the final regular season game at Yankee Stadium on Sunday night. The Red Sox return to Fenway Park tonight to close the regular season with a seven-game homestand, including four against Cleveland and three against the Yankees.

Twins 4, Rays 1: Francisco Liriano allowed one run over seven innings to lead Minnesota Twins past Tampa Bay at St. Petersburg, Fla. The Twins remained 2 1/2 games behind Central-leading Chicago. The White Sox beat Kansas City 3-0. Minnesota, which got a total of just 6 1/3 innings from its starters during the first three games of the series, split the four-game set with the East-leading Rays, who clinched at least a wild-card spot Saturday.

N.L. highlights

Phillies 5, Marlins 2: Philadelphia increased their lead in the East, beating Florida in Miami Gardens, Fla., and taking 1 1/2 -game edge over New York. After the Mets blew a late lead and lost at Atlanta 7-6, the Phillies won for the ninth time in their past 10 games. Philadelphia returns home today for the final week of the regular season — three games against the Braves and three against Washington. Florida remained five games behind the Mets in the wild-card race with seven games left.

Cubs 5, Cardinals 1: Ryan Dempster earned his 17th victory as Chicago kept on winning a day after clinching the Central title, beating St. Louis in its regular-season wrapup at Wrigley Field. The victory means the Cubs (94-60) need one more win to ensure home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs.

Giants 1, Dodgers 0 (11): Rich Aurilia hit a two-out, RBI single in the 11th inning, lifting San Francisco to victory over the Dodgers in Los Angeles and trimming the West-leading Dodgers’ lead over Arizona to 2 1/2 games. The loss was just the fifth in 21 games for the Dodgers, who have a magic number of five to win the West. Any combination of five Los Angeles wins or losses by the Diamondbacks will give the Dodgers their first division title since 2004.