Hudson starts, Affeldt relieves as Giants have retirement party on mound

SAN FRANCISCO _ Tim Hudson, all of 40 years old and in his last major league appearance Thursday afternoon, painted a fastball for a third strike against hyped Dodgers rookie Corey Seager.tmpplchld The grand game goes on and on. Only the names change.tmpplchld Seager will be around a long time. If he’s lucky, he’ll get 17 seasons in the big leagues, find his way to a World Series ring and a standing ovation on his way out the door. Howie Kendrick might have whistled the last pitch of Hudson’s career into center field for a single, but that did not dampen the applause as the beloved right-hander from Auburn by way of Oakland doffed his cap to a standing ovation in the third inning of the Giants’ 3-2 loss to the Dodgers at AT&T Park.tmpplchld Jeremy Affeldt, the three-time World Series champion who announced his own retirement earlier in the day, followed Hudson on the mound and warmed up amid an emotional storm. The Giants lined up on the field near the dugout and formed a hug line for Hudson, whose bald head glistened in the sunshine. He retires with 222 victories, the most among active pitchers.tmpplchld By the time the book closed on his career, Hudson allowed three runs in 2? 1/3 innings. He entered with a 3.49 career ERA. Thursday’s events didn’t change it.tmpplchld Hudson wouldn’t change any of it _ including the decision to throw one more time after his nostalgia game against Barry Zito at the Coliseum on Saturday. This is where he wanted to throw his last pitch.tmpplchld “These are the best baseball fans, and in my opinion, the best sports fans there are,” Hudson said. “This is a classy town and a classy organization and the best teammates I’ve ever played with.tmpplchld “I never would’ve dreamed the last couple years would be what they’ve been for me, and I thank God his plan for me was to come to San Francisco and experience these two years.”tmpplchld Hudson lasted just a touch longer in his final appearance than he did in Game 7 of the World Series last October. Affeldt followed him on that night in Kansas City, too.tmpplchld “I know it looked like I was trying to revisit the seventh game of the World Series, and I kidded with him that I’m glad it went better in Game 7,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said, smiling.tmpplchld “It was emotional, with a guy who had a tremendous career. You’re talking about Hall of Fame with this guy. It’s a special moment, and I just wanted him to take it all in. I appreciated having him on this team as much as any player I’ve had. I’m sure a lot was going through his mind. He just had a wonderful career.”tmpplchld So has Ryan Vogelsong, who used what might have been his last appearance as a Giant to blast his own announcement: He most certainly is not ready to retire.tmpplchld An impending free agent, Vogelsong allowed just one hit in four innings, struck out six and did not walk a batter while hitting 94 mph.tmpplchld On a day of farewell waves and emotional news conferences, Vogelsong sent a much different message.tmpplchld “I’m playing,” Vogelsong said. “I’m playing somewhere. That’s first and foremost. I don’t think I’m done, and today proved that.”tmpplchld Vogelsong hoped to pitch one more time in the final series against the Colorado Rockies this weekend but acknowledged he might have made his final appearance with the team that drafted him, developed him and then rode his career renaissance as a key contributor to the 2012 World Series title.tmpplchld Vogelsong almost didn’t re-sign with the Giants last winter. He assumes he won’t be back next year.tmpplchld “The last month, not getting a lot of time on the mound, I’m probably not high on the priority list _ which is something I hate to say, as much as I love it here and love everybody in the clubhouse,” said Vogelsong, who made his last start Sept. 3 and has made three relief appearances since then.tmpplchld “As much as I’ve seen the field in this last month, it pretty much puts the writing on the wall. That said, crazier things have happened.”tmpplchld It was crazy enough last winter, when Vogelsong agreed to terms with Houston only for talks to break down at the last moment. Now 38, Vogelsong said he’s hoping for a chance to crack someone’s rotation.tmpplchld “I really don’t have any expectations now other than I want to play and I’d like a chance to start and I still feel I can take the ball for 32 starts in a season,” he said. “We’ll see where the wind blows me. Physically I feel as good as I have. My arm feels good. I still feel I have a lot to offer to somebody, and we’ll see who that is.”tmpplchld ___tmpplchld (c)2015 San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)tmpplchld Visit the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) at www.mercurynews.comtmpplchld Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.tmpplchld