Fenway fans clamor for Derek Jeter but he holds his seat

Updated September 26 2014 11 34 PM By ERIK BOLAND erik.boland newsday.com

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Yankees captain Derek Jeter meets the media at Fenway Park in Boston on Friday Sept. 26 2014 the day after he played his last game at Yankee Stadium.(Credit Newsday / Mark La Monica)

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BOSTON In a season of lasts for Derek Jeter came a first Friday.

The shortstop requested a day off.

I don't ever remember him saying that Joe Girardi said.

MORE Derek Jeter career appreciation special section

But Jeter emotionally and physically drained after Thursday's 6 5 victory over the Orioles in which he produced a walk off RBI single in his final Yankee Stadium appearance didn't have anything left. Not for Friday night at any rate when the Yankees beat the Red Sox 3 2.

I couldn't have played today Jeter said during a pregame news conference. Last night was as special as it gets playing your last game at home at Yankee Stadium the way the fans were the atmosphere. Everything was pretty much perfect in terms of the situation that we were in.

Jeter said he planned to DH on Saturday and Sunday but that was of little solace to the 37 605 at Fenway on Friday night who wanted to see the Yankees captain. They chanted for him as the game went along and in the top of the ninth booed each of the young hitters Girardi sent to the plate Zelous Wheeler Antoan Richardson and Jose Pirela wanting Jeter to pinch hit.

Poor guys getting booed Girardi said. I felt bad for them.

Had Jeter wanted to pinch hit he would have.

I'm going to leave it up to him Girardi said.

Jeter said it was only out of respect for the Red Sox and their history with the Yankees that he was playing at all this weekend.

If it was anywhere else I don't even know if I'd play Jeter said. I have the utmost respect for the Red Sox organization and their fans here and I would love to come and play here one last time.

A city in which Jeter has been consistently and loudly jeered throughout his career. He recalled the 1999 All Star Game when he was dropped off at the wrong gate and had to walk around the stadium through fans to the players' entrance.

I thought they were going to kill me Jeter said with a smile. Funny how things have changed.

Jeter said while walking to lunch Friday afternoon fans stopped to congratulate him saying things like I'm a Red Sox fan I hate the Yankees but I respect you.

Jeter said he noticed the fans' edge softening to a degree after the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 a run that included a rally from 3 0 down to beat the Yankees in the ALCS.

The Yankees beat the Red Sox in a fierce seven game ALCS the previous year.

Oh man this rivalry has been intense throughout the years Jeter said. It doesn't get any more intense than playing in the ALCS in back to back years.

The Red Sox will honor Jeter on Sunday though team president Larry Lucchino described the plans as low key.

We're not giving him a red convertible or something like that Lucchino said on WEEI radio. What he cares most about these days is his Turn 2 Foundation. And we intend to make a sizable contribution to that and to give a little piece of Fenway Park to take with him.

Jeter doesn't know what to expect over the weekend but he knows it is unlikely to match Thursday's game and his immediate thoughts afterward.

I just won this game can you believe it That's the first thing that came to my mind Jeter said shaking his head a day later. I just couldn't believe what happened. I've been a part of a lot of big moments in my career I've been fortunate and lucky to be on the field . . . I couldn't have thought of a better way for it to end in New York.

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