Alex Rodriguez has accomplished something just 28 players in Major League Baseball have done before him. And Justin Verlander helped him reach it.
The Yankees designated hitter became the 29th player in history to reach 3 000 hits and in typical Alex Rodriguez fashion he did it with a dramatic home run off Verlander in the first inning on the first pitch he saw Friday night.
Greeted to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium when he first entered the batter's box Rodriguez rounded the bases somewhat slowly and patted Tigers catcher Bryan Holaday's shoulder as he crossed home plate before being greeted to hug from Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira.
It was early. I wasn't sure if he'd be swinging early or not Verlander told FOX Sports Detroit. In retrospect I think he was trying to get 3 000 out of the way.
Sixty seven games into his return from a yearlong drug suspension Rodriguez emerged from the dugout and tipped his cap in acknowledgement for a curtain call when the game was delayed for several seconds as fans gave him another ovation.
With the solo homer Rodriguez joined Hank Aaron Willie Mays Eddie Murray and Rafael Palmeiro as the only dual members of the 3 000 hit and 500 homer clubs.
I would've appreciated it if it wasn't a home run quite frankly manager Brad Ausmus told FOX Sports Detroit after the Tigers' 7 2 loss. He's in an elite class now. Congratulations to him but I would've preferred a single.
Only Rodriguez Aaron and Mays are in the 3 000/600 fraternity.
Rodriguez recorded his 2 000th career RBI over the weekend and logged his 10 000th career at bat last week. He tied Mays with 660 homers on May 1 and is just 44 runs away from reaching the 2 000 run milestone.
Entering Friday Rodriguez was 10 for 34 with four home runs off Verlander in his 21 year career but the 39 year old Rodriguez hadn't faced the six time All Star since 2013. That didn't seem to bother Rodriguez who deposited Verlander's first pitch a 95 mph fastball into the short porch in right field.
It traveled an estimated 373 feet according to ESPN Stats Information. He joined Derek Jeter and Wade Boggs as the only players that have reached the milestone with a home run for their 3 000th career hit.
Did you miss Rodriguez's 3 000th career hit No sweat. Watch a replay of Rodriguez's milestone making home run in the embedded video.
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