DEREK TAKES ACHIEVEMENT IN STRIDE
DEREK TAKES ACHIEVEMENT IN STRIDE
By EVAN GROSSMAN
May 27, 2006 -- Yeah, it was a cheap hit and could have easily been called an error, but Derek Jeter won't ever give back the dribbler he turned into a single last night for his 2,000th career hit.
"A hit's a hit," he said.
Jeter reached base to lead off the fourth inning with a swinging bunt for his milestone hit. It was his second trip to the plate in last night's rain-delayed 7-6 loss to the Royals at the Stadium.
Off a mighty hack at starter Scott Elarton's 1-1 pitch, Jeter didn't quite get all of it and the ball dribbled and died just inside the infield grass near the third base line. Bill Shannon, the official scorer, determined he reached first and then took second on a throwing error charged to catcher Paul Bako, who overthrew first by Chuck Knoblauch-like proportions. The ball went into the stands behind first and later was presented to Jeter during the 110-minute rain delay.
Once he reached second, Jeter acknowledged the frenzied crowd that had been on its feet for his first two at-bats in anticipation of No. 2,000.
"It's nice," said Jeter, who seemed shy about accepting individual honors for his milestone. "But to be honest with you, we're trying to win games."
The Yankees captain brilliantly took advantage of the moment: With his teammates all on the top step of the dugout and the tune from "The Natural" having just blared through the park, Jeter stole third on the next pitch Elarton threw with Gary Sheffield at the plate. Three batters later, Alex Rodriguez knocked him home for the Yankees' first run of the game.
Jeter, whose first career hit came May 30, 1995 against Seattle's Tim Belcher, went 2-for-3 with a walk on his historic night before the game was delayed by rain, recording hit No. 2,001 with two out in the seventh inning. He was stranded on third as the tying run in the bottom of the ninth.
Jeter became the eighth Yankee to record 2,000 hits, joining the legendary list of Lou Gehrig (2,721), Babe Ruth (2,518), Mickey Mantle (2,415), Bernie Williams (2,250), Joe DiMaggio (2,214), Don Mattingly (2,153) and Yogi Berra (2,148). He joined the elite club in just his 1,571st game, the second fastest in club history behind DiMaggio, who did it in 1,537 games.
"I knew he'd feel very uncomfortable tipping his hat," Joe Torre said of Jeter's moment. "Too bad we couldn't cap it off for him tonight."
evan.grossman@nypost.com
By EVAN GROSSMAN
May 27, 2006 -- Yeah, it was a cheap hit and could have easily been called an error, but Derek Jeter won't ever give back the dribbler he turned into a single last night for his 2,000th career hit.
"A hit's a hit," he said.
Jeter reached base to lead off the fourth inning with a swinging bunt for his milestone hit. It was his second trip to the plate in last night's rain-delayed 7-6 loss to the Royals at the Stadium.
Off a mighty hack at starter Scott Elarton's 1-1 pitch, Jeter didn't quite get all of it and the ball dribbled and died just inside the infield grass near the third base line. Bill Shannon, the official scorer, determined he reached first and then took second on a throwing error charged to catcher Paul Bako, who overthrew first by Chuck Knoblauch-like proportions. The ball went into the stands behind first and later was presented to Jeter during the 110-minute rain delay.
Once he reached second, Jeter acknowledged the frenzied crowd that had been on its feet for his first two at-bats in anticipation of No. 2,000.
"It's nice," said Jeter, who seemed shy about accepting individual honors for his milestone. "But to be honest with you, we're trying to win games."
The Yankees captain brilliantly took advantage of the moment: With his teammates all on the top step of the dugout and the tune from "The Natural" having just blared through the park, Jeter stole third on the next pitch Elarton threw with Gary Sheffield at the plate. Three batters later, Alex Rodriguez knocked him home for the Yankees' first run of the game.
Jeter, whose first career hit came May 30, 1995 against Seattle's Tim Belcher, went 2-for-3 with a walk on his historic night before the game was delayed by rain, recording hit No. 2,001 with two out in the seventh inning. He was stranded on third as the tying run in the bottom of the ninth.
Jeter became the eighth Yankee to record 2,000 hits, joining the legendary list of Lou Gehrig (2,721), Babe Ruth (2,518), Mickey Mantle (2,415), Bernie Williams (2,250), Joe DiMaggio (2,214), Don Mattingly (2,153) and Yogi Berra (2,148). He joined the elite club in just his 1,571st game, the second fastest in club history behind DiMaggio, who did it in 1,537 games.
"I knew he'd feel very uncomfortable tipping his hat," Joe Torre said of Jeter's moment. "Too bad we couldn't cap it off for him tonight."
evan.grossman@nypost.com
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