By then, Wright had charged to the field by himself, to his old spot at third base. He had to wave his teammates out to join him. One of them was Reyes, starting again with Wright for the 878th time, the most games together for any players in franchise history.

“I told him before the game, ‘I’m going to play the line, and you get everything else,’” Wright said.

Reyes, who is coming to the end of his contract but may not retire, led off the bottom of the first with a double. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, giving Wright a chance to drive in his old pal. Instead, Wright walked, and was forced out at second on a double play.

In the top of the third, Wright fielded a grounder by Bryan Holaday and slung a sidearm throw — the only kind he can still make — to first for the out. He made no more plays in the field and came to bat one more time, leading off the fourth.

Wright swung at a 1-0 fastball from the rookie Trevor Richards. He smiled as the ball climbed higher and higher, but not far enough to fall into the stands. First baseman Peter O’Brien drifted over — somewhat reluctantly, it seemed — and caught it for the out. That would be the moment that ended Wright’s career, and the fans booed O’Brien with gusto the next time he batted.