CHICAGO – Kerry Wood started his career with sizzle and ended it with style.

The 14-plus years in between were uneven to say the least, but such is life.

Wood, 34, said goodbye to the game he loved Friday on a gorgeous afternoon at Wrigley Field. The Cubs’ reliever struck out Sox left fielder Dayan Viciedo on three pitches, tipped his hat to a grateful crowd on his way off of the field, and embraced his young son in front of the dugout for a hug that looked as if it felt better than any of Wood’s 86 wins, 63 saves or 1,582 career strikeouts.