CHICAGO — Derek Jeter tied Luis Aparicio for second place on the all-time list of games played at shortstop Friday night against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
Jeter and Aparicio have 2,583 games at short and Omar Vizquel leads with 2,709.
“Everyone knows how good he was,’’ Jeter said of Aparicio. Only one guy played more games. It’s something to be proud of. I try to do my job and be available every day.’’
Turning 40 next month Jeter started at short for the 38th time Friday night out of 46 games and was the DH in another.
“I think he has been pretty good for the most part,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of Jeter, who is batting .268 with a .339 on-base percentage after going 2-for-4 with a walk in the Yankees’ 6-5 loss to the White Sox.
“There was one little glitch with the quad but he has been getting on base on a regular basis. He has been pretty good. I got a little worried when he had that little glitch but we have had no issues and he has played a lot.’’
Jeter sat out two games April 12-13 with a right quadriceps injury that seemingly hasn’t lingered.
As for playing his entire career at a middle infield position for one team, Girardi was impressed.
“It’s amazing what he has done at shortstop,’’ Girardi said. “It’s not only a credit to him it’s a credit to the Yankees. They decide he was their guy and would play here for a long time.’’
Girardi pointed out Jeter’s work ethic and dedication for his longevity, but also that he understood what was right and wrong.
“His effort in the winters and taking care of his body and taking care of himself at night. You don’t read about Derek being at places at 2 or 3 in the morning,’’ Girardi said. “He understands he has a responsibility.’’
Second baseman Brian Roberts fouled a ball off the front of his right knee in the fourth inning and stayed in the game until the ninth, when Brendan Ryan shifted from first to second and Mark Teixeira moved from DH to first.
X-rays were negative and Roberts said he would be available for Saturday’s game.
“It was pretty stiff pushing off,’’ said Roberts, who went 1-for-4.
Remember Kelly Johnson?
When spring training opened the left-handed hitting infielder was tabbed to play third base against right-handed pitchers.
He filled in at first for two weeks when Teixeira went on the DL, and when Teixeira returned there was no more time for him at third because switch-hitter Yangervis Solarte had become the full-time player due to a very productive bat that hasn’t cooled off.
“If you do well you play,’’ said Johnson, who started for the 15th time Friday night at first base against the White Sox when Teixeira was the DH.
His first-inning fielding error when he didn’t handle a throw from Solarte cost the Yankees an unearned run.
Johnson went 0-for-1 with a walk and is batting .200 in 39 games.
Michael Pineda is scheduled to throw to batters Saturday in the next step for the right-hander coming back from a teres major strain high on the right side of the back.
According to a report, the Yankees and Korean shortstop H yo-Jun Park are close to a $1.1 million deal.