Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood is retiring

CHICAGO, May 18 (UPI) -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood struck out the only batter he faced Friday and walked off the field into retirement.

Wood, 34, let it be known he wanted one final appearance as a player before ending his major league career after 14 years.

He was called on in relief in the eighth inning Friday against the Chicago White Sox and struck out Dayan Viciedo on three pitches. He was then pulled for another relief pitcher.

Wood shook hands with members of the bullpen staff when entering the game and several members of the Cubs joined him on the mound when Cubs coach Jamie Quirk removed Wood from the game.

He doffed his cap as he walked off the field and was met at the dugout by his 6-year-old son Justin.

Wood compiled an 86-75 record in 446 appearances in his career. He broke into the major with the Cubs in 1998 and also played for Cleveland and the New York Yankees. His strike out of Viciedo was the 1,582nd of his career and his earned run average is 3.67.

In his fifth major-league start he pitched a one-hit, no-walk shutout against Houston in which he struck out a record-tying 20 batters. However, much of his career was marked by injury.

He is expected to remain with the team in a non-playing capacity.

News broke Friday of Wood's impending retirement on his wife's Facebook page when she wrote, "Every story has an end but in life every ending is just a new beginning."