NEW YORK, July 9 (Reuters) - Derek Jeter became the 28th Major League Baseball player and first New York Yankee to reach 3,000 career hits with a home run in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday.
Jeter singled to lead off for the Yankees in the first inning to reach 2,999 and then cracked a home run into the left-field bleachers off hard-throwing left-hander David Price in the third to reach the milestone on a glorious Summer day in the Bronx.
The smash off a 3-2 pitch came with players in both dugouts leaning against railings to watch the at-bat as a packed Yankee Stadium audience stood on their feet and chanted “Der-ek Je-ter”.
The Yankees captain, not known for his power-hitting, delivered in style with a high shot that carried well into the stands in left-center, igniting a thunderous roar and a rush of team mates toward home plate.
When the 37-year-old Jeter touched home, he was first hugged by long-time team mate Jorge Posada, who like Jeter has been a member of five World Series title teams in the Pinstripes.
The game was delayed while his mates took turns congratulating him before the shortstop saluted the cheering fans and finally returned to the dugout.
It was Jeter’s third home run of the season and his first at Yankee Stadium in 286 at-bats, since he connected in a July 2010 game against Kansas City.
Jeter, who returned to the Yankees lineup Monday after missing 21 days with a right calf strain, became the first major leaguer to reach the 3,000-mark since Craig Biggio did it with the Houston Astros in June 2007.
Jeter became the fourth youngest player to reach the milestone, behind only Ty Cobb (34), Hank Aaron (36) and Robin Yount (36), and is the 11th member of the esteemed group to have collected all his hits for one team.
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