Derek Jeter didn’t collect the ball from his single on Thursday that tied him with Cal Ripken Jr. on the all-time hit list.
“I only realized I had tied him when they put it on the scoreboard,” Jeter said. “I don’t sit around thinking about what numbers are next. I don’t have a countdown chart.”
But trainer Steve Donohue did add to Jeter’s collection when he grabbed the ball after Jeter doubled to lead off last night’s 14-7 loss to the White Sox and pass Ripken for sole possession of 13th place with 3,185 hits.
“Derek has been such a special player for such a long time and I am happy to see him continue to play at a high level,” Ripken said in a statement.
Jeter said the only times he has paid attention to how many hits he had were when he broke Lou Gehrig’s team record and when he reached 3,000.
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I don’t think it’s a big deal,” Jeter said. “But I don’t go up to the box with the number in my head. I knew I was close, but I didn’t get the ball afterwards or anything.”
It will be a while before he gets to 12th. Nap Lajoie is next with 3,252.
* Russell Martin was held out of the starting lineup last night with a stiff lower back for the fifth time in six games, but he made his first appearance since Wednesday when he came into the game as a defensive replacement in the ninth.
Martin said his back felt good, and Joe Girardi expects him to start today.
“I was trying to win the game,” the manager said of his decision to use Martin, who mostly feels the injury when he swings. “This was the best he’s felt.”
* The injury news was not as good for right-handed reliever David Aardsma, whose comeback from Tommy John surgery was put on hold yesterday, general manager Brian Cashman confirmed.
The 30-year-old, who was on pace to join the Yankees as soon as next month, felt some discomfort in his elbow.
“You never want to get shut down,” Aardsma said on Twitter. “But sometimes you need to be smart and listen to your body.”
He had been pitching rehab games.
* The Yankees acquired former Met Chris Schwinden off waivers from the Indians. He will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. To make room on the 40-man roster, the team designated right-hander Danny Farquhar for assignment.
—Additional reporting by Mark Hale