Derek Jeter will head into a four-game homestand against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium needing just three hits to become the first member of the New York Yankees to amass 3,000 hits with the franchise. When he reaches the mark he will be the 28th player in baseball history to do so.
Jeter went 1-for-3 Wednesday night with a walk during a 5-3 Yankee loss to the Cleveland Indians. His lone hit was an eighth-inning double to right-field off Justin Masterson that pone-hopped the wall in right-center field.
The Yankee Captain was originally not scheduled to play Wednesday as Yankee manager Joe Girardi wanted to give him the day off before the series at Yankee Stadium. Jeter, however, apparently convinced the manager that he should be in the lineup.
Wednesday night Jeter struck out in the first inning, flied to center field in the third inning and walked in the sixth inning prior to his double.