MLB

Jeter’s ‘hustle’ play sparked Yankees’ rally

After 18 seasons, a dozen All-Star berths, five World Series rings and enough money to buy a small country, Derek Jeter still leads with his hustle and his heart. And that was evident yet again in the Yankees’ 5-4 win over the Mets, clinching a Subway Series sweep.

With the Bombers trailing 3-2 in the eighth inning, Jeter led off with a slow hopper that squirted under Mets shortstop Omar Quintanilla’s glove. The ever-alert Jeter not only ran hard right out of the box, but dug for second and dove in head first.

“I thought I’d take a chance,’’ said Jeter. “I saw it took sort of a funny hop on him, and I thought I’d take a chance.’’

He was credited with a single and taking second on the error; what he also did was assist in jump-starting the offense, scoring the game-tying run on first baseman Mark Teixeira’s single. The Bombers went on to take the lead 4-3.

“Huge play,’’ said manager Joe Girardi. “Great hustle.’’

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Jeter had also beat out an infield single leading off the sixth, but was stranded at third base on Alex Rodriguez’s inning-ending double-play.

“He hustled [yesterday] a couple times. He got down the line for the first base hit that he got. He looked like a track star going across first base there stretching out, and then just a great hustle play,’’ said starting pitcher Andy Pettitte. “That was going to be a tough play for the shortstop, kind of do-or-die, and Derek’s always so heads-up. It was a great read by him to be able to get to second.’’

Jeter wasn’t at shortstop, starting at designated hitter instead. After snapping an 0-for-17 skid with a first-inning single on Saturday — his longest such slump since May 9-12, 2010 according to Elias Sports Bureau — he has three hits in his last two games.