Retiring Tim Hudson soaks up ovation of final exit from major league game

SAN FRANCISCO -- Tim Hudson left the pitching mound for what is likely the last time Thursday, receiving a roaring ovation and tipping his cap to every section of the stadium as hisGiantsteammates waited in frontof the dugout in a hug line.

Hudson wanted one final start in front of the home fans at AT&T Park, even if it would be short and sweet. Manager Bruce Bochy obliged him, all right.

"He's earned that," Bochy said.

Hudson allowed three runs and three hits in 2 innings in the final start of his 17-year major league career, taking the loss in a 3-2 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

Hudson (8-9), 40, said his farewell last weekend across the bay in Oakland, where his career began in 1999, pitching opposite former Giants lefty Barry Zito.

Hudson is the majors' active wins leader for a few more days with 222 victories. He won his first World Series ring last season and winds up having thrown 46,631 pitches against 13,005 batters.

"I was surprised how good I was able to hold it together there," Hudson said. "The last couple weeks have been a little bit of an emotional roller coaster for me. I've had so much fun over the last 17 years, and today was a really special day for me, the way the fans responded, the way my teammates responded. I didn't quite know what to expect, but I'm very grateful for all of it."

Bochy said he expected Hudson's outing to be short, considering he has been bothered by a tender left hip, but that wasn't an issue Thursday.

Hudson will be honored during the weekend along with left-handed reliever Jeremy Affeldt, who announced his retirement Thursday and entered to relieve Hudson.

After so many playoff failures, Hudson finally won his first World Series ring last fall.

"I never would have dreamed things would have unfolded how I hoped they would," he said. "That never happens, especially in this game. It seemed very magical."

Dodgers left-hander Brett Anderson, who got his start with the A's five years after Hudson departed for Atlanta, pitched two-hit ball into the eighth in his final regular-season start. Los Angeles clinched the NL West earlier this week.

Anderson (10-9) retired 14 straight batters following Kevin Frandsen's one-out single in the third before Jarrett Parker singled to start the eighth. He made his career-high 31st start, topping his 30 outings in 2009 as a rookie with Oakland. He reached a high for innings with 180.

Just three balls left the infield against Anderson, and no San Francisco runner reached second base until an eighth-inning throwing error by second baseman Howie Kendrick. Anderson gave up four hits, struck out three and didn't walk a batter in 7 innings.

"We just couldn't generate any offense," Bochy said. "He had us off balance all day."

The Giants won the season series 11-8, beating the Dodgers in eight of 10 at home.