TORONTO -- Blue Jays reliever Darren Oliver retired on a high note Sunday, striking out two Tampa Bay Rays in the swansong to his 20-year major-league career.
The 42-year-old left-hander came on to a standing ovation to open the seventh against the meat of the Rays order, with Toronto trailing 7-3. He struck out Wil Myers and Evan Langoria while inducing James Loney to fly out.
He threw 11 pitches, eight for strikes, before giving way to Steve Delabar for the eighth inning.
Oliver leaves the game with a 118-98 record in 766 games and 1,915.2 innings pitched. He struck out 1,259 and walked 720 in a career that included three stints in Texas as well as stops in St. Louis, Boston, Colorado, the Angeles and Mets.
Oliver, the son of former major league infielder Bob Oliver, returned this season after the Jays exercised a US$3-million option for 2013
During spring training, he said good health, good teams and good coaches helped keep him in the game so long. He also worked at it, studying opposition batters.
"There's really no magic explanation why I've stayed around so long," he said.
