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Robinson Closes Career With a Loss

WASHINGTON (AP) - Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson has ended his Major League Baseball manager's career with a loss before a hometown crowd.

Robinson's Washington Nationals wrapped up the season with a 6-2 loss to the New York Mets at RFK Stadium.

New York's David Wright and Shawn Green each had two hits in the second inning, when the Mets scored six runs on nine hits.

Guillermo Mota pitched a perfect eighth inning and was credited with the win.

Washington's Ramon Ortiz left what might have been his final appearance for the Nationals after getting only four outs - his shortest start of the season.

The game might also have marked free-agent-to-be Alfonso Soriano's last game in a Washington uniform. After he trotted out to left field in the top of the fourth, Robinson sent out a sub, so the fourth member of the 40-40 club could jog off to a standing ovation.

Robinson says he wants to find opportunities for people to fill qualified positions in different baseball organizations now that he's no longer a manager.

During a ten minute pre-game address, Robinson said he is not going to manage, but he is not retiring.

The Hall of Famer has been part of the game for 51 years during a career that saw him win Most Valuable Player honors in both leagues. He also hit 586 homers and became the first black manager in Major League Baseball.

Robinson joined the Nationals franchise five years ago when it was the troubled Montreal Expos franchise.

At 71, Robinson says he's spent 51 years doing something that he likes, loves and enjoys doing and that's mind-boggling.