COUNTDOWN: A-Rod hits 666th homer, is five hits from 3,000
Alex Rodriguez goes 1 for 5 with a home run in a 9-4 Yankees loss to Baltimore. He's within five hits of 3,000, and he has surpassed 2,000 career RBIs.
Alex Rodriguez crept within five of 3,000 career hits Saturday night, connecting for his 666th career home run in a 9-4 Yankees loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards.
A-Rod would be the 29th player in major league history to reach 3,000 hits, the most recent being Derek Jeter, a former teammate of Rodriguez, who did it in 2011. Of those with at least 3,000 hits, only Pete Rose, Rafael Palmeiro and Jeter aren't in the Hall of Fame -- yet.
Rodriguez's home run, a two-run shot to right-center against right-hander Bud Norris, was significant in the moment because it tied the score 4-all in the sixth inning.
Watch it fly:
Rodriguez, who finished 1 for 5, also reached 2,001 career RBIs. Only greats Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Cap Anson have more -- though Ruth's and Anson's RBI totals are in dispute because the stat didn't become official until 1920. Ruth's career began in 1914, and Anson's even predates Major League Baseball, to 1871, in the National Association -- which is not considered by MLB or the Hall of Fame to be a "major" league. This much is fact: A-Rod's up there with 'em in the record book, official or not.
The Yankees have lost three straight after winning seven in a row.
And, as he approaches his 40th birthday on July 27, Alex Rodriguez is hitting effectively and checking off career milestones.
