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BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Cal Ripken Jr., arguably the greatest player in Baltimore Orioles' history, called it a career. For Boston Red Sox starter, David Cone, this season was more like a rebirth. Ripken, the future Hall of Famer who many credit with saving the national pastime, went 0-for-3 in his 3,001st and final game, a 5-1 loss to the Red Sox. "It was totally overwhelming," Ripken said. "It blows you away. Those are the feelings you get. ... I don't have one thing, there was just emotion and excitement all day for me. The outpouring of love from the fans was pretty overwhelming." Baseball's Iron Man, Ripken captivated the nation in September 1995 with his assault on the consecutive games played streak held by legendary New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig. Ripken broke Gehrig's record on September 5, 1995 and ran his streak to 2,632 games. Honored before and after the game, Ripken failed to deliver in his final game the way he did on that September night in 1995 or in this year's All-Star Game, when he homered en route to Most Valuable Player honors. Ripken lined out to left field in the second, popped out to shortstop in the fifth and skied to center in the eighth. He was in the on-deck circle when Brady Anderson struck out to end the game. "I would have liked to get another (at-bat) after Brady," Ripken said. "But I gave it my best effort and I'm happy with that." Both teams discussed the possibility of Boston walking Anderson to bring Ripken to the plate one last time. "I didn't really because of the integrity of the game," Red Sox manager Joe Kerrigan said. "That is what Cal Ripken stands for -- the integrity of the game." While Ripken's career came to an end, Cone capped a remarkable turnaround with one of his best outings of the season. The 38-year-old, who was an abysmal 4-14 with a 6.91 ERA last season with the Yankees, allowed an unearned run and three hits over eight innings. After signing with Boston as a free agent in the offseason, Cone was injured coming out of spring training and did not join the team until mid-May. He did not win until June 8 but he ran off seven straight victories and was Boston's best pitcher when ace Pedro Martinez began experiencing shoulder problems. Cone (9-7) did not finish strongly, dropping five straight decisions before Saturday, but he looked as strong as ever against the Orioles. And unlike last season, he probably will get to decide his fate should he choose to return in 2002. "I challenged them with my best fastball," said Cone, who allowed three earned runs or less in 21 of 25 starts this season. "They swung well the first inning. But I used my best fastball all night." "Give Cone credit," Red Sox first baseman Brian Daubach said. "The way he kept them off balance." Ugueth Urbina followed Cone with a scoreless inning as the Red Sox concluded the season at 82-79 -- a three-game dropoff from 2000. The damage to the franchise was worst than that as manager Jimy Williams was fired, players revolted and management came under fire for questionable moves. All of this occurred while the future of the team's ownership remains muddled. Baltimore finished 64-98, 10 games worse than last year, but manager Mike Hargrove kept his team competitive despite disappointing performances by a couple of key veterans. Hargrove also was asked to break in and evaluate some of the Orioles' younger players. The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Jeff Conine that scored Tim Raines Jr. But Boston took a 2-1 lead on Dante Bichette's 12th homer, a two-run shot off Orioles starter Rick Bauer in the second. Jose Offerman made it 4-1 in the fifth on Offerman's ninth home run, a two-run shot off Bauer. Boston picked up its final run in the ninth on an RBI double by Joe Oliver that scored Lou Merloni. Bauer allowed four runs in seven innings and fell to 0-5. Baltimore did not win any of his six starts this season. In Bauer's defense, the Orioles have scored just eight runs while he has been in the game. Buddy Groom retired a batter in the eighth and joined Colorado's Mike Myers as the the only pitchers to appear in 60 straight games in six straight seasons. After the game, two of Ripken's veteran teammates reflected on the night. "I don't think it will hit us until spring training when we see his locker is not there," Conine said. "I don't want to think about it now. I am going to miss him. This was an incredible celebration for baseball tonight." "It was a great night for Cal and the fans of Baltimore," Baltimore shortstop Mike Bordick said. "There is a Ripken legacy here in this city. The end of his career is sad for the baseball community but the career is also a tribute to what baseball can do -- it lifts spirits."
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