Jeter has Magical Day as Yankees Win

Derek Jeter laughed in the face of pressure on Saturday, not only getting his 3000 hit, but going 5-5 including hitting the game winning RBI in the process, as the Yankees came back to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4.

The Captain started off the Yankee half of the first inning with a single to left field in an eight pitch battle against Tampa Bay Rays starter David Price. The single gave him his 2,999 hit and, as he revealed during his post game press conference, relieved a little of the pressure.

Yankees starter AJ Burnett, gave up a solo home run in the following frame, putting the Rays up 1-0.

The Yankee captain stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the third inning, with one out. His team was down a run and all eyes were on him as he was only one hit away from 3000. The Yankee faithful rose to their feet, chanting “Derek Jeter” as he worked Price to a 3-2 count. Price delivered a curveball and Jeter crushed it to deep left field, putting an exclamation point on his 3000 hit, snapping his 286 game home run drought at Yankee Stadium, and most importantly tying the game.

During the post game press conference, aired on MLB.com, Jeter said, “I never envisioned what type of hit it would be.” He added, “I didn’t care, as long as they didn’t catch it.”

His teammate and friend Jorge Posada was the first to greet him, giving him a huge hug at home plate before the rest of the Yankees mobbed him as if he had just hit the game winning run. After hugging everyone and making it back to the dugout, he went back to the field for his curtain call, the fans erupting in cheers. He waved to the fans, and even the Rays, who also stopped to clap for The Captain. After the game, Jeter, always the gentleman spoke of the delay, “I felt bad the game had to stop.”

in a Yankee uniform.' (Nick Laham/Getty Images Sport)"]

Jeter became only the second player in MLB history to hit a homerun as his 3000 hit, with Wade Boggs being the other player. After Jeter’s hit, Boggs released a statement through the Yankees in which he said, “Reaching the 3,000 hit mark is another piece of the legacy that Derek has created. It won’t be too long now before we are on the verandah in Cooperstown at the Otesaga Hotel celebrating his Induction to the Hall of Fame.”

Once play resumed, the Yankees added another run on a RBI single by catcher Russell Martin and took a 2-1 lead through 3.

The lead was short lived though, as the Rays added two more runs in the top of the fourth on a two run home run by B.J. Upton.

With his team down 3-2 in the 5th, and the pressure off, Jeter came out to bat with a standing ovation from the crowd. He continued his story-book day by belting a double to left field, his third hit of the day and hit number 3001 on his career. Curtis Granderson came up next, knocking him in with a single to right field, tying the game again. Robinson Cano scored Granderson on a sac fly to left, giving the Yankees a 4-3 lead.

Jeter came up for his fourth at bat in the bottom of the 6th inning, and knocked a sharp line drive to right field, his fourth hit of the day. The Yankee offense could not get him around though, and the score remained 4-3.

At the top of the 8th inning the Rays added a run on a Ben Zobrist RBI single, tying the game at four. But Derek Jeter had one more at bat. The Captain came up to the plate with one out and a runner on third. He singled on a soft grounder to center field, scoring Eduardo Nunez and giving the Yankees the lead for good, 5-4.

Enter the Sandman, Mariano Rivera, in the 9th for a three up three down performance and the story was complete.

Derek Jeter ended the game a triple shy of the cycle. Rivera said during the post game press conference, “I was expecting the triple!”

The Captain’s ended his career day going 5-5, joining Craig Biggio as the only other player in MLB history to go 5-5 on the day they hit 3000 hits.

After the game, Jeter, always a team player was thankful that the team had won, stopping a two game skid against division rival Tampa. “If we didn’t win, it would have put a damper on things,” he said.

The Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner reflected on the accomplishment by his shortstop, in a statement released by the Yankees.

“Derek has always played with a relentless, team-first attitude. And that mind-set has helped sustain this organization’s objective of fielding championship-caliber teams year after year. It’s only fitting that he reach 3,000 hits during a victory against one of our American League rivals.”

The Yankees will get back to work tomorrow against the Rays at 1:05pm before taking a three day break for the All-Star Game. Jeter will not play in the All-Star game, despite being voted in to start, so that he can rest his calf for the second half of the season.

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