Lawrie saved a run in the fifth when he made a leaping catch on Sean Rod

TAMPA, Fla. -- Derek Jeter pulled into the parking lot of the New York Yankees minor league complex on Thursday, walked out of his grey Mercedes-Benz and waved a hand holding a bottle of mineral water as about 50 fans applauded his mere arrival. After taking batting practice in an indoor cage and throwing on a field, he drove out of the parking lot about 90 minutes later -- the car cleaned and polished, its silver hub caps shining. He stopped and rolled down the drivers side window to sign photographs, baseballs and other memorabilia for the first dozen people or so who had waited in line. Already the most adored player on the baseball team with the highest profile, the New York Yankees captain figures to be the recipient of an ever-heightened level of adulation during the next 7 1/2 months as he circumnavigates the major leagues in a farewell tour that could be called Pinstriped Parting 2 following Mariano Riveras emotional exit last year. Asked whether he felt good about the decision he announced Wednesday, Jeter responded: "I do." But he didnt want to get into an extended discussion. Jeter will hold a news conference at Steinbrenner Field next Wednesday, the reporting day for the teams position players. "Ill address it when we get over there the first day of spring. Its easier that way," he said. Jeter took the Yankees by surprise with his Wednesday morning telephone call to owner Hal Steinbrenner, and his Facebook announcement later in the day jolted fans accustomed for nearly two decades to the constants of his hot hitting and cool demeanour. Speculation began about a suitable replacement: Hanley Ramirez, Asdrubal Cabrera and J.J. Hardy are among the players eligible for free agency after the season. "I wish hed have quit in 05," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said, laughing, remembering Jeters many performances against his Boston Red Sox. "If youre a baseball fan, he is the walking example of whats good in baseball. You respect him so much, and yet you want him to have as little to do with the outcome of the game if youre his opponent -- and thats probably the biggest compliment you can give him. Hes going to find a way to beat you whether its on the bases, on defence or at the plate. "And again, because I was in that division, I saw it too much," Francona went on. "He ranks right up there with the most respected players. Im glad hes walking away on his own terms. Well probably get to see him seven, eight times. I hope he goes 0 for 28 and we give him a nice plaque or something, but I dont see that really happening." By Wednesday night the Yankees had sent out an email with links to Jeter gear and ticket information. They announced Thursday that general individual ticket sales will start Feb. 24 -- up from March 5 last year. Stubhubs lowest price for the Yankees regular-season home finale on Sept. 25 was $307.50 for a single upper-deck seat and its highest was a fanciful $66,432.90 for a pair in the bleachers. Asking amounts for game No. 162 at Boston three days later were similarly inflated. Mariano Riveras farewell season turned into a marketing opportunity, Already Steiner Sports is selling Jeter game-used equipment that includes jerseys ($15,000 and up), cleats ($1,049.99 and up), batting gloves ($599.99 and up) and even a sock ($525). "This was all sudden. Well sit with Derek and Casey and his people and come up with a plan," Yankees President Randy Levine said, referring to Jeters agent, Casey Close. Jeter had no desire to switch positions or change teams. He wanted to be a member of the Yankees and a shortstop, and nothing else. He was limited to 17 games last season after breaking an ankle in the 2012 playoffs, and he turns 40 in June. He could join Luis Aparicio and Ozzie Smith as the only one-position players with 2,500 or more major league games, according to STATS. If he is able to regain his place on a regular basis, he would be a superannuated shortstop. Only Honus Wagner (1914, 15), Luke Appling (47, 49) and Omar Vizquel (2007) have appeared in 100 or more games at the position in the year they turned 40 or later. "With the captain, its an experience Im going to tell all my kids and the people that I know," Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli said, "because I think hes the greatest player Ive ever seen in my life." NOTES: Masahiro Tanaka also was at the complex, wearing a Yankees T-shirt and shorts, and threw a bullpen session of about two dozen pitches. Jeter joked about having to learn more Japanese to communicate with Tanaka. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Tanaka threw two- and four-seam fastballs, splitters and sliders. "It was good. Hes still trying to catch up I think with the time change and everything. Just trying to ease him into things," he said. "Were going to go slow with it." ... The Yankees will play exhibition games against the Miami Marlins in Panama City on March 15-16 to honour Rivera, the first visit of Major League Baseball to the Central American nation since 1947. AP Sports Writer Joe Kay in Goodyear, Ariz., contributed to this report. Joe Dumars Jersey . Finlands Kari Lehtonen made 26 saves to lead Dallas over the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 Saturday night. He received plenty of help from the Stars defence and got goals from Ray Whitney and Russias Valeri Nichushkin. Reggie Bullock Jersey . The visitors missed a host of good chances to win the game, and were left to rue substitute Ivo Ilicevics strike against the crossbar in the 86th minute, when he only had the goalkeeper to beat. https://www.pistonsrookiesshop.com/ .Former NBA forward Morris Peterson has been added to TSNs Toronto Raptors broadcast team. Christian Laettner Pistons Jersey . UEFA said Wednesday that the champions of England and France only have to include five home-trained players in their 21-man squads next season instead of the expected eight. Only one of the five players needs to be trained by the club itself. Jerry Stackhouse Pistons Jersey . George Hill had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers, who stayed atop the overall NBA standings despite losing twice on their West Coast trip. Los Angeles kept it close into the second half before the Pacers finished an easy win over the injury-riddled Lakers, who have lost five straight. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Toronto Blue Jays are on the verge of their best road trip to Tampa Bay in years. Mark Buehrle allowed four hits over 8 2-3 innings, Jose Bautista homered twice, and the Blue Jays beat the Rays 3-0 on Wednesday night. With a victory in Thursday nights game, Toronto would stop a streak of 20 consecutive winless road series against the Rays. The Blue Jays, who have won two of three against the Rays to start a four-game set, havent won a series at Tampa Bay since April 2007. Of the 20 series, the Blue Jays have lost 19 and split one. "Obviously, it hasnt been a good place for this team," Buehrle said. "Hopefully come out and take this series tomorrow and get off to an even better start." Buehrle (1-0) struck out 11 and walked one. "It was a tremendous game for him," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "A great effort, I dont know how else to describe it." It was just the second career double-digit strikeout games in 430 major league starts for Buehrle. The other was a 12-strikeout game on April 16, 2005, against Seattle, while with the Chicago White Sox. "That ball was running, ducking, and darting," Gibbons said. Sergio Santos entered after Ben Zobrist had a two-out single off Buehrle in the ninth and walked Evan Longoria. Brett Cecil then struck out pinch-hitter Matt Joyce for his first save. Bautista put the Blue Jays ahead 1-0 on his first homer of the season, a solo shot off Matt Moore (0-1) in the fourth. Dioner Navarro made it 2-0 later in the inning with an RBI single. Toronto went up 3-0 on Bautistas second homer, a towering solo drive to left off Josh Lueke during the seventh.dddddddddddd It was the sluggers 22nd multihomer game. "For the most part their offence was centred around one guy. He can do that kind of stuff," Rays manager Joe Maddon. Moore gave up two runs, six hits and three walks in 5 2-3 innings. The Blue Jays had runners on first and second with two outs in the first when Longoria got a forceout at third after leaping to catch Navarros grounder that went airborne after hitting the base. Toronto third baseman Brett Lawrie saved a run in the fifth when he made a leaping catch on Sean Rodriguezs liner with a runner on a second. "Our defence was amazing," Buehrle said. "If they dont make some of those plays, Im not out there probably past the sixth inning. It was a perfect storm. Everything worked out." Notes: Tampa Bay RHP Chris Archer and Blue Jays RHP Brandon Morrow are Thursdays scheduled starters. Archer and the Rays agreed to a $25.5 million, six-year deal on Wednesday. The contract includes club options for 2020 and 2021 that could raise the value to $43.75 million. ... Blue Jays SS Jose Reyes (mild left hamstring inflammation) is getting treatment and feeling better. He hopes to return in a couple weeks. ... Toronto closer Casey Janssen, on the 15-day disabled list due to a strain in his left abdominal area and lower back, threw in the outfield. ... Rays OF David DeJesus (bruised right foot) was out of the lineup for the second straight game and is day to day. ... Blue Jays LHP J.A. Happ (back tightness) had a bullpen session. ... Toronto agreed to a minor league contract with INF Juan Francisco. ' ' '