Alles was Frau bewegt » "She was calling everything," Ha

HOUSTON -- Andy Pettitte completed his career in a most fitting fashion. The 41-year-old left-hander pitched a five-hitter for his first complete game since 2006, leading the New York Yankees over his hometown Houston Astros 2-1 Saturday. "It couldnt end any better," Pettitte said, trying to hold back tears. Two days after Mariano Riveras finale in front of an emotional crowd at Yankee Stadium, Pettitte followed his teammate into retirement and left only Derek Jeter left from the Core Four who earned five World Series rings with the Yankees since 1996. Pettitte said the last week of this season has been difficult for him. "Its been terrible because I know its over," Pettitte said. "Its a shame you get old." Chris Carter singled with two outs in the ninth, ending a string of 11 straight batters retired by Pettitte. Yankees manager Joe Girardi came to the mound, had a brief conversation with Pettitte, then returned to the dugout. Girardi said he left it up to Pettitte as to whether he wanted to stay in the game. With the crowd on its feet and cameras flashing, J.D. Martinez hit a game-ending groundout to third baseman Eduardo Nunez, giving Pettitte his 26th complete game. Pettitte, who lives in suburban Deer Park, lingered on the field as teammates hugged him -- including Jeter, Rivera and Girardi, Pettittes former catcher. The Astros stood in front of their dugout, applauding, and fans chanted "An-dy! An-dy!" "I dont know how to even take you through it, except I just felt like I wasnt even worthy to have that happening to me," Pettitte said. Houston extended its team-record losing streak to 14 with its 110th loss of the season. The oldest starting pitcher in the major leagues, Pettitte finished this season 11-11 and never had a losing record in 18 major league seasons. He was 256-153 with a 3.85 ERA and 2,448 strikeouts during the regular season and excelled in October, where he compiled a record 19 post-season wins. It was a week of nostalgia for the Yankees. Rivera, the 43-year-old career saves later, was given an emotional home sendoff Thursday night and said Saturday afternoon that he wouldnt pitch during the season-ending series against the Astros. "I told Mo I might finish the game off if youre not in the bullpen," Pettitte said. Rivera was ecstatic that Pettitte finished his career with a complete game. "I was pulling for him, knowing that he was there alone," Rivera said. "This was his game and we just had to cheer for him, and thats what we did -- thats what I did." Girardi compared Riveras last appearance to Pettittes night. "It was a different feel," he said. "Mos was about honouring a man that had meant so much, but this really felt like a playoff game, because we wanted this for him so bad." Pettitte struck out five and walked two in a 115-pitch effort, allowing his only run on Carters RBI groundout in the fourth. With a sharp slider and cutter, he kept the Astros to 0 for 11 with runners on base. "I couldnt have dreamed this would have worked out the way it did," Pettitte said. "Im so thankful and fortunate and blessed and I just feel like God worked this out exactly perfect. Just another day that Ill never forget." Robinson Cano hit an RBI single in the sixth inning, and New York took the lead when Nunez scored on an embarrassing error later in the inning by catcher Matt Pagnozzi, who accidentally spiked the ball while trying to throw to second on an attempted pickoff. "I didnt have a grip and I was trying to stop my arm and what happened happened," Pagnozzi said. "Its pretty tough, especially with the kind of skid were on right now. Having it come down to being the go-ahead run that scored. Yeah, not something that you want to happen." Numerous friends and family of Pettitte were on hand, including former Houston teammate Jeff Bagwell. The pair exchanged a hearty embrace before Pettitte took the mound. Making his 438th start for the Yankees, he tied Whitey Fords team record. "It was fitting," Jeter said. "Its funny how things work out sometimes. I know hes had some good memories here. Hes from here. It was special for him to do it in front of Yankee fans, as well as the Houston fans." NOTES: The Astros 323 losses over three seasons are tied with the 1940-42 Philadelphia Phillies for fourth-most in big league history according to STATS, ahead of only the 1962-64 New York Mets (340), the 1963-65 Mets (332) and the 1915-17 Philadelphia Athletics (324). ... Houston starter Paul Clemens allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. ... Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez said Saturday that he didnt expect to play this weekend because of soreness in his legs. 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The world No. 1 had one of the most dominating performances in a final and was on his way to a possible shutout on Sunday until the third-seeded Berdych broke the super Serbs serve in the 12th game of the match.BEREA, Ohio - Sarah Thomas starts the day at her second job by tucking her long blond hair inside her cap, so she doesnt get noticed. On a football field, thats impossible. Thomas doesnt consider herself a pioneer, just "one of the guys." But as one of two female officials in the NFLs officiating development program, Thomas has a chance to break barriers in a male-dominated profession. This week, Thomas, a former college basketball player, current college official and mother of three whose full-time job is as pharmaceutical sales representative, worked with a crew of officials during Browns mini-camp. Like the players, she worked on improving her skills and honing her craft. One day, she hopes to be on the field with the pros. But not because of her gender. "I am a female, but I dont look at myself as just a female," she said. "I look at myself as an official." Thomas began her officiating career in 1996, when an NFL scout spotted her working a high school game. From there, she joined Conference USA and was invited to join the NFLs developmental program, now in its second year. Thomas worked some training camps and preseason games last season. The next step is a regular-season game, and the earliest that can happen is 2015. Its not her call, so to speak, but Thomas believes shes ready. If this week was any indication, Thomas could be on her way. "Shes done a good job," Browns coach Mike Pettine said after practice Thursday. Pettine believes its time for the league to welcome female officials. "If shes efficient and good at what shhe does, I have no issues with it," Pettine said.dddddddddddd "I think the best compliment somebody paid to her was when someone said, What did you think of the female official? And they said, Theres a female official out here? I thought she was on point." Browns cornerback Joe Haden joked that Thomas was a little whistle happy. "She was calling everything," Haden said, smiling. "I couldnt snap on her. I was chilling." Thomas said her goal is to blend in. She doesnt want to stand out because of her sex — or worse, because shes not competent. Shes dedicated to being a solid, fair and mostly unseen, which is why she pulls her hair up under her cap. Still, sometimes players do a double take when they see her on the field. "I think sometimes they go What is that?" she said. "Yes, I do tuck my hair and at first I really wasnt too sure why. But I get it. We dont want to be noticed and anything I can do to blend in — I like it when I leave the field and people go I told you that was a girl." Thomas has two boys and an 18-month-old girl. She said her sons are most interested in her nabbing some NFL attire or autographs, "I cant do that," she said. Her children have never thought about their mom being anything other than an official, so they dont really grasp that she could make history as the NFLs first female official. "They just know mom officiates and its nothing foreign to them or pioneering or anything," she said. "I do this." ___ AP NFL website www.pro32.ap.org ' ' '