Derek Jeter went 0-for-4 Monday night in his return to the New York Yankees lineup, his quest to become the first player in franchise history to reach 3,000 hits remaining stuck at 2,994.
The hardest ball Jeter hit all night during a 6-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians was an eighth-inning line drive to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera off reliever Vinnie Pestano.
Jeter has six games remaining before the All-Star break to reach the 3,000-hit mark. After two more games in Cleveland, the Yankees open a four-game homestand at Yankee Stadium against the Rays on Thursday, leading into the break.
“It feels good to be back,” Jeter said. “I don’t like to miss games, period, so to be out for three weeks — it’s tough to be away, because you want to be out there playing. In retrospect, it probably was the best thing to do."
Jeter is now hitting .256 for the season.