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Groton Daily Independent
Monday, July 31, 2017 ~ Vol. 25 - No. 031 ~ 28 of 42
Beltre doubles for 3,000th hit, 1st from Dominican to do it By STEPHEN HAWKINS, AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adrian Beltre had a feeling like none other he has experienced on a baseball eld when he saw his three children coming toward him. Then they kept running to the wall in right-center eld.
Only after helping unveil a logo com- memorating Beltre’s 3,000th career hit did the kids return to hug their father , the 38-year-old Texas Rangers third baseman who had just become the rst player from the Dominican Re- public, and 31st overall, in the major leagues to do that.
“What happened today after the hit, it was the best moment in my life,” Beltre said. “When I saw that, I felt like I was in the cloud, because I re- ally saw the joy in their faces. It was a nice moment to enjoy with them, my family, my wife.”
Beltre reached the milestone in the fourth inning of a 10-6 loss Sunday toBaltimoreOrioles,whogothomers from Jonathan Schoop and Welington Castillo in a ve-run fth.
Texas Rangers’ Adrian Beltre tips his helmet as he ac- knowledges cheers after hitting a double for his 3,000th career hit that came off a pitch from Baltimore Orioles’ WadeMileyinthefourthinningofabaseballgame,Sunday, July30,2017,inArlington,Texas.(APPhoto/TonyGutierrez)
“It’s an honor to be here for it. Especially, we couldn’t have drawn it up better where we win and we get a chance to see that,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “Everybody in the game has a lot of respect for him, not only statistically but the way he’s handled success over the years.”
The Rangers were already down 4-0 when Beltre, who nished his 2,771st career game 1 for 5, had a hard hit down the line — ttingly past third base — for a double.
A banner was unfurled high above straightaway center eld congratulating him. His teammates, who had crowded on the rail of the rst-base dugout to be as close as possible to the historic moment, ooded onto the eld to celebrate with him.
Beltre’s two daughters and 10-year-old son Adrian Jr. left their front-row seats near the dugout they had shared with family members, including Beltre’s parents.
“We have a lot of great baseball players in the Dominican Republic, and I’m proud to be one of them,” Beltre said, calling the moment even more special being able to share it with his father on what was Fa- ther’s Day in the Dominican Republic.
Now in his 20th big league season, he is only the third player who is primarily a third baseman in the 3,000-hit club, joining Hall of Famers George Brett and Wade Boggs.
The milestone came only minutes after former Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez nished his induction speech at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Barring unusual circumstances, getting 3,000 hits has traditionally been a ticket to the Hall.
Rangers manager Jeff Banister, who referred to Beltre as the “next Hall of Famer” said July 30 will forever be one that Texas fans will remember as “Ranger Day.”
“Like we told him earlier, he means so much to this organization, to this team, a mentor to every single player and coach,” Banister said. “We thanked him for allowing us to tag along this journey with him, and