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With milestone behind him, Jeter tries to lead Yanks past Rays

Jul 10, 2011 - 2:38 PM (Sports Network) - Fresh off a milestone day for captain Derek Jeter, the New York Yankees will attempt to win the rubber match of a rain-shortened, three- game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium.

Yesterday, Jeter hit a home run in the third inning to become the 28th player in major league history to reach the 3,000-hit plateau.

Jeter finished 5-for-5 with a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning, a double and a pair of runs scored to lead New York to a 5-4 win over Tampa Bay. The veteran shortstop became the first player to reach the milestone while wearing Yankees pinstripes and the second player to homer for his 3,000th hit, joining former teammate Wade Boggs, who accomplished the feat in 1999 with Tampa Bay.

"I wasn't sure it was going to be a home run," Jeter said. "I was hoping, but afterwards, to be honest with you, I was pretty relieved."

He became only the second player to record five hits in the game in which he reached 3,000 hits and first since Craig Biggio in 2007.

With 3,003 hits, Jeter passed Roberto Clemente (3,000) for 27th place on the all-time hits list.

"I think we all thought, 'Wow, he really knows how to do it,'" Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of his shortstop's historic feat. "This is a guy who has always been a big-time player in a big moment."

Mark Teixeira chipped in with a pair of hits while Mariano Rivera worked a perfect ninth to earn his 22nd save of the season.

David Robertson (2-0) earned the win, despite giving up the lead in the eighth.

Joel Peralta (2-4) gave up the RBI single to Jeter to absorb the loss for the Rays.

"I have an appreciation for what happened today," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "I'm really proud of our guys for handling a very emotional moment from the other side. I want to believe that a lot of teams would not have performed as well as we did today under the circumstances."

Tampa will send All-Star hurler James Shields to the mound this afternoon for a much-anticipated pitchers duel. Shields' 8-6 record isn't overly impressive, but his 2.47 ERA is far more indicative of the way he has performed thus far. The righty will attempt to bounce back from a loss to Minnesota last time out, as he permitted three runs (two earned) in six innings of work.

Shields lost his lone previous start against the Yankees this season and is just 3-9 versus the Bronx Bombers with a 4.83 ERA.

New York ace CC Sabathia will oppose Shields, so runs will likely be tough to come by for both squads. Last time out, Sabathia became the first 12-game winner in the majors by blanking the Indians over seven innings. He struck out 11 batters in that tilt and is now 12-4 with a 2.90 ERA. In 136 2/3 innings, the big lefty has yielded only five home runs.

Sabathia is 8-5 lifetime versus Tampa with a 3.24 ERA.

The Yankees own a stellar 52-35 record, yet still sit a game back of Boston for AL East supremacy.

As for Tampa Bay, it is five games off the pace set by the Red Sox.

The Rays and Yankees have split their four meetings so far this season.