Yankees 7, Tigers 2
NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez reached 3,000 career hits by hitting a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the first inning off Justin Verlander and the New York Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers 7-2 on Friday night.
Rodriguez became the 29th player and joined Derek Jeter as the only players to do it for the Yankees when he sent a first-pitch fastball by Verlander (0-1) into Section 104 of the right-field seats. He rounded the bases with a wide smile on his face, slapped first base coach Tony Pena's hand and pointed to various portions of the crowd.
Upon crossing home plate, Rodriguez accepted hugs and handshakes from teammates before taking a curtain call to acknowledge the standing ovation from the crowd of 44,588. The Yankees acknowledged the hit with a large graphic on the centerfield scoreboard that read: "Congratulations Alex, 3,000."
The ball was caught by 38-year-old Zack Hample, a baseball collector, who told the Yankees that he was keeping the ball.
Rodriguez's hit came nearly six years after he got his 2,500th hit on Sept. 2, 2009. He also became the third player to reach the milestone with a home run, joining Wade Boggs in addition to Jeter.
Rodriguez also joined Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray and Rafael Palmeiro as the only players to get 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. His home run was his 13th of the season and 667th career.
The milestone home run was one of three hit by the Yankees. Shortstop Didi Gregorius hit a solo home run in the second and left fielder Brett Gardner hit a go-ahead two-run home run with one out in the fifth.
New York scored three times in its final two at-bats.
Gardner scored on a wild pitch and first baseman Mark Teixeira had an RBI single in the seventh. Gardner added an RBI single in the eighth.
New York right-hander Adam Warren (5-4) allowed two runs and seven hits in a career-high xx innings.
Detroit scored both runs in the second on a two-run double by catcher Bryan Holaday. The Tigers almost made it a one-run game in the sixth but second baseman Ian Kinsler was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a fielding error by third baseman Chase Headley on a relay throw.
In his second start of the season following a strained right triceps, Verlander allowed six runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
The Yankees took a 1-0 lead with two outs in the first when Rodriguez drove Verlander's first-pitch fastball into the right field seats for his milestone hit.
Detroit scored twice with one out in the second on a two-run single by Holaday but the Yankees forged a 2-2 tie on Gregorius' third home run with one out in the third. Two innings later, New York took a 4-2 lead on Gardner's seventh home run.
NOTES: Detroit activated DH Victor Martinez from the 15-day disabled list after he missed a month with left knee inflammation. To make room for Martinez, OF Tyler Collins was optioned to Triple-A Toledo after batting .275 in 18 games for Detroit. ... The Yankees made four roster moves Friday, recalling RHPs Bryan Mitchell and Branden Pinder from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, placing RHP Sergio Santos on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 15 with right elbow inflammation and optioning RHP Chris Martin to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. ... New York RHP Ivan Nova (Tommy John surgery) made his third rehab start in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's game at Lehigh Valley. ... The Tigers signed five draft picks Friday, including OF Christin Stewart, who was the 34th overall selection. Detroit has agreed to terms with 20 of 41 draft picks.