Alex Rodriguez reaches 2,000 RBIs with 666th career home run
File this under things that are only possible with Alex Rodriguez.
On Saturday night in Baltimore, the New York Yankees designated hitter became only the second player on record to reach 2,000 career RBIs, and he did so by connecting for career home run No. 666.
Talk about a series of numbers and set of circumstances that are sure to freak people out. Clearly, this has to be confirmation that A-Rod sold his soul to the devil somewhere along the line.
Well, that, or it’s simply one of the more interesting, frightening and oh-so-fitting coincidences we’ve seen in a game that’s never short on such things.
The timing could not have been scripted or planned any better given most of the public’s general view of A-Rod. He’s trolling the world even when he’s not trying to troll the world, and the reactions to this milestone are sure to be glorious.
The only thing that could have topped it would be A-Rod lining up his 3,000th career hit for the ultimate trifecta. As it is, he’s sitting on 2,995 hits, meaning that milestone should fall in the next week.
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The home run itself was a two-run shot off Orioles starter Bud Norris, which actually gives Rodriguez 2,001 for his career. Hank Aaron is the only other player on record with 2,000 RBIs. He remains comfortably ahead of the pack with 2,297.
As we’ve noted in the past, Major League Baseball’s official statistician is the Elias Sports Bureau. They only started keeping track of RBI as a statistic in 1920, otherwise Babe Ruth (2,214) and Cap Anson (2,075) would also officially be in the 2,000 club, though you’re free to count them in you like.
Here’s another thing we must acknowledge about A-Rod.
He’s hitting them when they count. That matters quite a bit, because we weren’t sure he’d hit any at all.
Saturday’s blast temporarily tied New York’s game in Baltimore in the top half of the sixth. The Orioles turned right around and scored three in the bottom half and two more in the seventh to win going away, 9-4.
The Yankees will look to avoid a three-game weekend sweep in Baltimore on Sunday afternoon. If A-Rod can inch a little closer to 3,000 hits, that will set up an interesting scenario. On Monday, the Yankees will begin a four-game split series with the Miami Marlins, with the first two games being played in Miami, A-Rod’s home town.
Given that it’s a National League park, A-Rod may just ride the bench and serve as a pinch hitter. But it’s at least plausible that’s where the milestone will happen. Otherwise, it should definitely happen on the Yankees eight-game home stand that follows.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
