Yankees Win on Historic Night

Derek Jeter makes his history with his 2,721st hit

Jeter Ties Gehrig as Yankees Rally
Written for Baseball Digest Online

Jorge Posada ripped a 3-run home run into the right field in the bottom of the 8th inning last night to give the Yankees a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. And Derek Jeter smiled. Jeter wouldn't have been happy last night had the Yankees lost on the night he tied Lou Gehrig as the all-time Yankees hit leader with 2,721 hits.

The current captain was 3-4 and had a chance to break the record in the 8th inning, but walked on a 3-2 pitch from Grant Balfour. But it was a still a historic night for Jeter, who is also the all-time hit leader at his position, having past Luis Aparicio earlier this season.

Entering the game in an 0-12 slide, Jeter laid a perfect bunt down the third base side to start the game with an infield single. He grounded out to shortstop in the third, but doubled to center in the fifth inning. That set up a dramatic 7th inning at-bat against Rays' starter Jeff Niemann. With the Yankees still trailing 2-0 and one out, Jeter ripped a first pitch fast ball past a diving 1ast baseman Chris Richard and into right field for the record tying hit.

The fans, including his parents, sister, and girlfriend (actress Minka Kelly) erupted in a long standing ovation. Jeter acknowledged the tribute, doffing his helmet on two occasions. After the game he self deprecatingly told ESPN, "I just tried to pull the ball, but as usual it went the other way".

Jeter was stranded on third inning, as every other Yankees base runner had been to that point. But the Yankees broke through against the beleaguered Rays bullpen in the 8th. Alex Rodriguez' lead off single finally knocked Niemann from the game and Hideki Matsui greeted Lance Cormier with a single to right, putting runners on the corners with no one out. Nick Swisher hit a potential double play ball to Richard, but the former Oriole, playing in his first major league game in six years, threw the ball into left field for a run scoring error.

One out later, Rays manager Joe Maddon sent for Balfour to turn pinch-hitter Jorge Posada around to the left side. It was a mistake. Posada hit a bullet into the right field seats for his 21st home run of the season and a 4-2 Yankees lead. With two down and no one on in the inning, Jeter stepped up to the plate and another huge ovation as he tried to surpass Gehrig. But after working the count full, he took a fastball well out of the zone for a base on balls. Balfour then left the game to a loud chorus of boos.

Joba Chamberlain had his, now custom, three inning start and quickly fell in a 2-0 hole in the 1st inning. Jason Bartlett led off the ball game with a home run and the Rays added another run in the inning on a Pat Burrell RBI single. Chamberlain ended up striking out the side and pitched well over the next two inning, which included a talking-to from Jeter.

Game Notes

The Yankees have Thursday off before starting a 3-game series at home with the Baltimore Orioles. You can see Derek Jeter try to break the record Friday night (7:05 P.M. ET) on YES and MASN in the area markets, plus the MLB Network will do live look-ins.

Jeter also stole his 300th career base, joining Rickey Henderson as the only Yankees to achieve that feat.

With Mariano Rivera unavailable last night, Brian Bruney and Phil Coke worked the 9th inning, with Coke picking up his second save.

The loss was the Rays 8th straight.