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Leiter retires after Yankees beat Indians
By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
March 19, 2006

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The New York Yankees held a spring reunion, then one of them decided he's not coming back anymore.

Al Leiter, a 19-year veteran who just returned from pitching for the underachieving U.S. team at the World Baseball Classic, retired following Sunday's 2-0 win over the Cleveland Indians.

The 40-year-old left-hander had hinted about calling it a career for some time. The end became official in the seventh inning after Leiter faced one batter and Cleveland's Eduardo Perez on a grounder to third.

After time was called, Leiter handed the ball to Yankees pitching coach Ron Guidry, got patted on the head by Alex Rodriguez and began a slow, teary walk off the field for the final time.

He sat in New York's dugout until the Yankees turned an inning-ending double play, then got hugs and warm wishes from his teammates.

"It feels good to be able to go out on your own term," Leiter said. "I love the game very much, but when you were a certain type of player for a few years, being a front-end starter, that's the way I still think I can pitch. But the body tells you no.

"It feels right. Family, kids, I'm constantly being asked when I'm coming home."

Perez, the son of Hall of Famer Tony Perez, was thrilled to be a small part of Leiter's retirement.

"We go way back and it was an honor to be his last hitter," Perez said. "He's a class act. The competitor, the cutter, the never-say-die attitude. That's been Al Leiter."

Earlier, Leiter, a two-time All-Star who pitched a no-hitter in 1996, soaked in his last day in uniform as a major leaguer. He posed for photos with Yankees manager Joe Torre and spent about 15 minutes chatting with New York general manager Brian Cashman.

Leiter finished with a record of 162-132 and won World Series titles with Toronto (1993) and Florida (1997). He also pitched for the New York Mets.

The Yankees were all together for the first time since the exhibition opener as Leiter, Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter and Rodriguez returned from playing for the American team, which was bounced early from the WBC. Bernie Williams, too, was back after playing in the tournament for Puerto Rico.

Seeing his stars back was pleasing for Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who had reservations about his players missing a prolonged period. The only opening-day starter not in Sunday's lineup was catcher Jorge Posada.

Yankees starter Randy Johnson looked to be in midseason form, pitching six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. The Big Unit didn't walk a batter and had little trouble with a depleted Cleveland lineup.

"We had a shot of energy today, those guys being back," Torre said. "I think they were happy to be back, too. It's nice to put a team on the field more like opening day."

New York scored two runs in the first off Indians starter Jason Johnson, who asked out of a minor league game so he could pitch against the Yankees. The right-hander gave up seven hits in five innings.

A big, bright spot for Cleveland was 22-year-old Fausto Carmona, who pitched three scoreless innings.

"I think you can see the confidence growing in that young man," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "He has had an outstanding camp and he most definitely has everybody's attention."

Back in Yankee blue and back at shortstop, Jeter made an error moments into the game.

Cleveland leadoff hitter Jason Michaels hit a grounder to Jeter, whose throw was up the line and pulled first baseman Jason Giambi off the bag. After a stolen base, Casey Blake singled to give the Indians runners at the corners.

But Johnson struck out Jhonny Peralta and Victor Martinez before getting Perez to fly to center.

Jeter made up for his miscue in the bottom of the inning when he followed Damon's single with an RBI double. Giambi followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0.

Cya l8r Al - I thought he was a pretty nifty guy. I liked Al Leiter. He was very, very quirky on a radio interview they did with him on a pre-game show. He'll be missed.

I must ask ... why would you retire in the middle of spring training???