For the first time since June 13th, Derek Jeter made forward progress in his trek to 3,000 hits. Stuck at 2,994 for what seemed like a lifetime, the Yankee captain went 2-6 in New York's 9-2 Tuesday night victory over the Indians. The start was Jeter's second game back from the DL. He now sits at 2,996 hits, four away from the vaunted milestone.

Jeter got the drama out of the way early, leading off the top of the first by blasting a single of Cleveland Indians righthander Chris Carrasco. He followed that up by cracking a two-run double in the top of the second, Jeter's first RBI's since June 12th.

That would be all she wrote, however, as the next four at-bats would not be as kind to the pinstriped shortstop. Jeter struck out looking in the third inning, flied out to center in the fifth, grounded out to short in the seventh, and grounded out to third in the ninth. His average after the game raised one point, to .257.

The Yankees finish off their three-game set with the Indians on Wednesday night, before heading home to New York for a four-game series with Tampa Bay. For all intents and purposes, it seems likely that the Yankee-faithful will be able to witness Jeter completing his climb to one of baseball's greatest accomplishments within the comfortable confines of Yankee Stadium.