Derek Jeter moved ever closer to reaching the vaunted 3,000 hits mark in the first inning of the New York Yankees' Thursday night game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Jeter entered the series stuck at 2,997 hits.
The Yankee captain got this one out of the way early, leading off the bottom of the first inning by crushing a double to center field. With Jeter's mother and father in the stands, the New York faithful enthusiastically cheered the 37-year old as he rounded the base paths. In his next at-bat, Jeter grounded out to third base to end to second inning.
Following a long New York road trip, both Jeter and Yankee fans were delighted that the shortstop would have an opportunity to break the record within the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium. The Bronx Bombers have a four game home stand against Tampa Bay before heading back out onto the road for another eight game road trip.