ankee Stadium, Bostons David Ortiz was honored in a pregame cer

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings rallied to extend their post-season streak to 22, the longest in North American professional sports. Then, they got within a win of making an improbable appearance in the Western Conference finals. Detroit, though, failed to finish off Chicago after taking a 3-1 series lead, losing three straight, including a 2-1 overtime loss in Game 7 against the Blackhawks on Wednesday night. "It stings," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Thursday. "Everybody in our organization is down because we had a great chance to get to the final four. But give Chicago credit because they got it done and we didnt." Holland said he has mixed emotions about the year. He is disappointed Detroit couldnt win one more game, perhaps in Game 6 when it had a third-period lead at home, to advance for a second time this post-season. Holland is encouraged, though, by how well the teams veterans led, and the ways its inexperienced players improved during a rebuilding season. "We have a lot of pieces in place, enough to beat the second-seeded Anaheim Ducks and to be up 3-1 on the top team in the league," he said. "There are a lot of good things going on, but we want to get further than Game 7 in the second round." The Red Wings hope to get past the second round next year for the first time since 2009 -- when they were a win away from repeating as Stanley Cup champions -- by agreeing to win-win deals with Damien Brunner, Valtteri Filppula, Daniel Cleary and Drew Miller before they hit the market as unrestricted free agents. "We had teams inquiring about some of them at the trade deadline, but we made the decision to keep them and see how far they could go," Holland said. "Now, wed like to re-sign them if their finances fit in with our finances." As soon as July 5, Holland hopes he can sign Pavel Datsyuk to a new contract so that next season isnt the final one on the superstars deal. "Were going to talk to Pavs agent in a while because we would like to get an extension done," Holland said "But well see because were in a cap world." It wont cost the franchise as much to re-sign restricted free agents Gustav Nyquist, Joakim Andersson, Brendan Smith and Jakub Kindl. "We want them back, without a doubt," Holland said A year after swinging and missing in attempts to sign Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, Holland doesnt plan to even attempt to make a splash this summer in free agency. "There are no quick fixes and free agency isnt the answer," Holland said. "It is just a tool to get finishing touches, but well explore trades and well keep an eye on players that are bought out of their contracts." The Red Wings are counting on the return of three key forwards -- Darren Helm, Mikael Samuelsson and Todd Bertuzzi --- after they combined to play just 12 games during the regular season because of injuries. They also lost rookie defenceman Danny DeKeyser, who coach Mike Babcock credited with helping them make the playoffs, because of a broken thumb in the first round. In all, Detroits injured players combined to miss 243 games during the regular season and 34 in the playoffs. "We were No. 1 in the league in man-games lost due to injury and the depth of our organization allowed us to stay afloat," Holland said. "If we only add Helm and DeKeyser, were a little better, but we want to do more than that if we can to get a lot better." Goaltender Jimmy Howard was healthy enough to play 42 of 48 games in the lockout-shortened season. He started all 14 playoff games, and did enough to earn a six-year, $31.8 million contract signed in April to stay with the franchise that drafted him a decade ago. Howard has high hopes for the future. "Theres a lot of great things you can take out of this season," Howard told reporters in Chicago. "A lot of guys stepped up for us. 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NEW YORK -- Starlin Castro was at the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday night when Baltimore finished a 4-0 win at Toronto, eliminating the Yankees from postseason contention.Knowing New York had failed to reach the playoffs for the third time in four years, the mind of Yankees manager Joe Girardi immediately shifted attention to 2017. He removed CC Sabathia after one more batter and pinch ran for Brett Gardner in the eighth when Girardi didnt like the way the speedy outfielder was running.Its kind of how Im wired, and you start thinking about, OK, what do we need to do? Girardi said.Sabathia (9-12) allowed one run and four hits over a season-high 7 1/3 innings for his first win in a month and finished with a 3.91 ERA, his lowest since 2012. Playing his final game at Yankee Stadium, Bostons David Ortiz was honored in a pregame ceremony, struck out, walked and ended the series 0 for 10 with four strikeouts.But the Yankees thoughts were on another subpar season. They have not won a postseason game since Derek Jeter broke an ankle in the 2012 AL Championship Series opener.After a 9-17 start, the Yankees did not get back above .500 until June 10. They were 53-53 when they brought up rookie catcher Gary Sanchez on Aug. 3 following the trades of Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, Carlos Beltran and Ivan Nova.Most Yankees fans looked to the future.Everybody gave up on us, shortstop Didi Gregorius said. I think we scared everybody, actually, to be honest, because nobody expected us to be all the way here.Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin were promoted 10 days later on the morning Alex Rodriguez was released, and they homered back to back in their first big league at-bats. The Baby Bombers began to climb the standings, pulling within one game of a wild-card spot on Sept. 10.But even with Sanchez hitting 20 home runs in his first 51 big league games, they faded from contention with a 3-11 skid that included a four-game sweep at Fenway Park.New York (83-76) trails Baltimore and Toronto by four games for the ALs wild cards with three games to play. A final three-game series against the Orioles wont have much significance for the Yankees.Its pretty quiet in there, probably the quietest Ive ever seen after a win, Girardi said. There were some good things that happened, but in the end we fell short and we didnt have a successful season.Sabathia, who struggled to reinvent himself at age 36, left to a loud ovation, ending a six-start winless streak and improving to 2-2 despite a 2.37 ERA in his final eight starts. He compensated for a drop in fastball velocity by developing a cutter this season and pitched with better location using a brace on his surgically repaired right kneee.ddddddddddddThat cutter is a game-changer for him, catcher Brian McCann said. When youre changing identities and who youve always been as a pitcher and to have the success he had was great.Coming back from a 2015 season that ended with a trip to an alcohol rehabilitation center, Sabathia made 30 starts and stayed healthy except for a short disabled list stint caused by a groin strain. His $25 million option for 2017 becomes guaranteed if he is not on the DL Sunday because of a left shoulder injury.The way I was able to pitch and use all my pitches and make this new style work for me is definitely encouraging, Sabathia said. We used it a lot, had some weak contact, a lot of double plays.Playing against his former team, Jacoby Ellsbury hit an RBI double in the fifth off Henry Owens (0-2) for a 2-1 lead. The Yankees padded the margin in the sixth on a blustery night when Robby Scott walked Austin with the bases loaded, then threw a wild pitch that scored Chase Headley. Aaron Hicks added an RBI double in the eighth.Xander Bogaerts hit his 21st homer for Boston (92-67), which is competing with Cleveland (91-67) and Texas (94-65) for the ALs best record and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. A day after clinching the AL East, the Red Sox rested second baseman Dustin Pedroia, first baseman Hanley Ramirez, right fielder Mookie Betts, catcher Sandy Leon and third baseman Brock Holt from their starting lineup.New York hopes its young players can spark a rebound similar to Bostons.Coming into spring training next year, were expecting to win. Were not expecting to rebuild, McCann said. These guys are going to play big roles and theyre ready for it.A-ROD WATCHAlex Rodriguez is expected to start work as a Yankees instructor at the teams minor league complex, where Orlando Hernandez arrived Thursday.TRAINERS ROOMYankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (forearm) threw a bullpen session and said he could start Saturday against Baltimore. Manager Joe Girardi said he had not made a decision. ... 1B Greg Bird (right labrum surgery) had an RBI double and struck out twice in four at-bats against Philadelphia prospects in his first Instructional League game in Tampa, Florida. He went 0 for 2 in an intrasquad game Monday. ... RHP James Kaprielian, selected in the first round of the 2015 amateur draft, is scheduled to pitch in the instructional league against Toronto on Friday, his first outing since he went on Class A Tampas DL in late April with an elbow flexor strain.UP NEXTYankees: Michael Pineda (6-11) is to start Friday against Baltimore. Rain is possible. ' ' '