Jeter overtakes Gehrig as Yankees' hit leader

Derek Jeter passed Lou Gehrig as the New York Yankees' all-time hit leader when the 10-time All-Star shortstop took a single in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles.

New York Yankees' Derek Jeter raises his fist to show his appreciation at the crowd applause after his 2,722nd hit.

NEW YORK // Derek Jeter passed Lou Gehrig as the New York Yankees' all-time hit leader on Friday when the 10-time All-Star shortstop took a single in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles in front of nearly 47,000 fans at the Yankee Stadium. "For those who say today's game can't produce legendary players, I have two words: Derek Jeter," said the Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. "Game in and game out he just produces."

The entire team joined their captain at first base after the 2,722nd hit of his 15-year career. "As historic and significant as becoming the Yankees' all-time hit leader is, the accomplishment is all the more impressive because Derek is is one of the finest young men playing the game today," Steinbrenner added. "That combination of character and athletic ability is something he shares with the previous record-holder Lou Gehrig."

Gehrig had held the record for more than 70 years. Jeter, 35, has spent his entire career with the Yankees and is a four-time World Series winner. However, his milestone could not stop his team losing 10-4 to the Orioles. Elsewhere in the American League, the Los Angeles Angels beat the Chicago White Sox 7-1 to extend their lead in the West to five and a half games. Maicer Izturis and Vladimir Guerrero each had two RBIs.

Clayton Morten got the first win of his career as the Oakland Athletics beat the Minnesota Twins 12-5. Bud Norris, like Morten, conceded just one run in six innings in the Houston Astros' 9-1 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Miguel Olivo drove in both of the Kansas City Royals' runs as they picked up their fifth straight win with a 2-1 victory over Cleveland Indians.

The Toronto Blue Jays won 6-4 in Detroit against the Tigers. Rod Barajas hit his 17th homer and Randy Ruiz got his second with Aaron Hill producing four hits. Vernon Wells had two RBIs. Mike Morse's two-out pinch hit double in the sixth inning was crucial as the Washington Nationals overcame the Florida Marlins 5-3. Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman hit a homer apiece. The Seattle Mariners' trip to the Texas Rangers was postponed due to the weather, as was the Tampa Bay Rays' game at the Boston Red Sox.

In the National League, West division leaders, the Los Angeles Dodgers, continued their strong form with a 10-3 win against the San Francisco Giants. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez had three RBIs and Geovany Soto got his 10th homer as the Chicago Cubs won 6-4 at home to the Cincinnati Reds. The Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets 4-2 in a low-scoring game with Cole Hamels striking out six.

The Atlanta Braves edged St Louis Cardinals 1-0 as the in-form Jair Jurrjens lowered his ERA to 2.81 with eight shut-out frames. San Diego Padres led the Colorado Rockies 1-0 going into the ninth inning but were rocked by a dramatic finale which saw Yorvit Torrealba hit a three-run double to seal a 4-1 win for the hosts. The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-3.

* With agencies