A-Rod gets hit No. 2,999, a single in fifth against Marlins

NEW YORK (AP) Alex Rodriguez has moved within one hit of 3,000 for his career with a single to left field in the fifth inning Thursday night against the Miami Marlins.

The New York Yankees slugger entered the game with 2,997 hits. He had an RBI single to center in the first before hitting a hard grounder to left off Marlins starter Mat Latos with one out in the fifth.

With one more hit, the soon-to-be 40 Rodriguez will become the 29th player to join the elite club and the first since former Yankees teammate Derek did so four years ago.

In his rejuvenated return from a one-year drug suspension, Rodriguez got his 2,000th RBI last week to move into second place since the record was kept beginning in 1920, passed Willie Mays for fourth on the homer list with No. 661 and exceeded 10,000 at-bats in a 21-year career.