Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Monday 31 July 2017
Beltre 3,000th hit ers, he spent five years in
Seattle and one in Boston

Continued on Page 17 on the hits list with Roberto before joining the Rangers
in 2011, the year he finally
Clemente. Al Kaline (3,007)
Rangers manager Jeff Ban- and Boggs (3,010) are next made it to a World Series.
ister, who referred to Beltre up on the list. The double was Beltre’s
as the “next Hall of Famer” Wade Miley (5-9) went five 1,111th hit with the Rangers,
said July 30 will forever be innings and one of the four after 949 with the Dodgers,
one that Texas fans will re- hits he allowed being to 751 with the Mariners, and
member as “Ranger Day.” Beltre, who grounded a 3-0 189 in his only season with
“Like we told him earlier, pitch that went past the the Red Sox before going
he means so much to this bag and then ricocheted to Texas as a free agent.
organization, to this team, off the side wall into left A power guy, he has never
a mentor to every single field. The Orioles lefty also bunted for a hit.
player and coach,” Banis- got one of his five strikeouts It was Beltre’s 605th career
ter said. “We thanked him when Beltre went down double, matching Paul Mo-
for allowing us to tag along swinging in the second in- litor for 14th all-time. That
this journey with him, and ning. also matched Mel Ott for
be part of it.” “As a fan of the game, Texas Rangers’ Adrian Beltre follows through on a double for his 20th with 5,041 total bases;
3,000th career hit which came off a pitch from Baltimore Orioles’
A pre-recorded message what a career that guy’s Wade Miley in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, and Beltre’s 454 homers
from Rodriguez in Coo- had. I wasn’t trying to July 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. are 38th on that list. He is
perstown congratulating let him get a hit by any Associated Press also a five-time Gold Glove
Beltre for 3,000 hits was means, but at the same winner who had a career-
played on the stadium vid- time as a fan, this had to best and franchise-record
eo boards after the fourth happen,” said Miley, who ton has converted an rookie with the Los Angeles 62 consecutive games at
ended. joined his teammates on AL-record 57 consecutive Dodgers on June 24, 1998, third base without an er-
“I just think it’s amazing,” the field applauding for save opportunities, eight four years after they had ror before a throwing error
said Jeff Bagwell, who was Beltre. “He’s one of those this season. Beltre’s first signed him. After seven Saturday night — and an-
inducted with Rodriguez. guys that as a kid you hit came as a 19-year-old seasons with the Dodg- other Sunday.q
“He’s just an amazing watch. That’s the kind of
baseball player, arguably respect I have for him.”
one of the best third base- Rougned Odor homered
men of all time. He can do twice and drove in five
everything. He plays hurt, runs for Texas. His two-run
he hits for average, he hits single in the fourth scored
for power, drives in runs. Beltre, who reached on a
He’s a great, great player.” wild pitch after striking out
The only other current ac- in the eighth before Odor’s
tive player in the 3,000-hit second homer. Nomar
club is Miami Marlins out- Mazara also went deep.
fielder Ichiro Suzuki, who is Orioles closer Zach Britton
tied with Hall of Fame play- came on with two on in
er Craig Biggio for 22nd all- the ninth, striking out Maz-
time at 3,060 hits. ara and getting Beltre on
Beltre is tied for 30th place a fielder’s choice ground-
er to end the game. Brit-