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Jeter moves to within three of 3,000, but Indians get the win
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo
New York Yankees' Derek Jeter waits to bat in the ninth inning in a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians, Wednesday, July 6, 2011, in Cleveland. Jeter did not get a chance to bat in the ninth. Jeter ended the game three away from 3,000 for his career. The Indians won 5-3. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Associated Press
CLEVELAND
As the final out was made, Derek Jeter stood near home plate, resting his bat on his shoulder.
He was on deck — just as he is for 3,000 hits.
Jeter pulled within three hits of 3,000 for his career, lining a double in three at-bats against Cleveland’s Justin Masterson, who shut down the powerful New York Yankees for eight scoreless innings and led the Indians to a 5-3 win on Wednesday night.
Jeter, playing his third straight game since returning from injury, went 1 for 3 and also drew a walk from Masterson (7-6), who was backed up by two sensational plays from All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera in the eighth.
His quest to become the 28th major leaguer — and first purebred pinstriper — to reach 3,000 will resume tonight against Tampa Bay at Yankee Stadium, his professional home since 1995. The famed ballparks, both the new and old versions, have never hosted any player getting his 3,000th hit.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Jeter said of his return to the big ballyard in the Bronx. “I wanted more today, but that wasn’t the case. I’m definitely looking forward to going back to New York.”
Rookie Lonnie Chisenhall hit his first career homer for Cleveland, which took two of three from the AL East leaders. The Central-leading Indians scored two runs in the first off starter Phil Hughes (0-2), but spent most of the night wasting scoring chances. They left the bases loaded twice and stranded 13 runners.
Masterson allowed three hits, struck out six, walked two and got just his second win since April 26. New York’s left-handed hitters went 0-for-19 against him.
The right-hander turned it over in the ninth to Cleveland’s bullpen, but reliever Vinnie Pestano couldn’t finish it out and gave up three runs. Closer Chris Perez came on and got three outs for his 21st save, striking out Brett Gardner to end it as Jeter stood a few feet away.
Hitless in his first three appearances, the 12-time All-Star doubled with one out in the eighth. He went to third on a sharp grounder that Cabrera ran down on the first-base side of second, spun and threw out the speedy Curtis Granderson. Cabrera, who almost didn’t play because of a sprained right ankle, wasn’t done.
With the Indians shifting right for left-hander Mark Teixeira, Cabrera went even farther into short right field before making a sliding stop of a hard-hit grounder. He popped to his feet and threw out Teixeira.
Cabrera has been a human highlight reel all season.
“Nothing he does surprises me,” Masterson said. “It never gets old.”
Chisenhall’s homer made it 3-0 in seventh, and the Indians added two in the eighth on a bases-loaded walk and Grady Sizemore’s sacrifice fly.
Sizemore also made a nice defensive play in the fifth, robbing Nick Swisher of extra bases with a leaping grab at the wall in right-center.