Jeter getting comfortable, passes Collins

NEW YORK -- Hits have been hard to come by for Derek Jeter since he came off the disabled list for the third time on Aug. 26. The Yankees shortstop began Tuesday with just four hits in 27 at-bats over his last seven games, and he entered Monday's game mired in an 0-for-14 slump.

Jeter broke out of that slump in a 9-1 win over the White Sox, though, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

"The more you play, the more comfortable you get," Jeter said after the game. "Today, the results were there. You get better in time."

The Yankees captain also showed no limitations from the fractured left ankle and right leg injuries that caused him to miss 125 games this season, sprinting to second after White Sox left fielder Alejandro De Aza misplayed his single to left and advancing to third base on Robinson Cano's flyout to center.

Seeing that aggressiveness made manager Joe Girardi feel "pretty good," and prompted him to say that Jeter has shown no physical ailments since returning from the disabled list last week.

Jeter, who was the designated hitter Tuesday night against the White Sox, said he's not focusing at all on his past injuries and the time he's missed during his "unique season."

"I don't really have a choice," Jeter said. "We only have 25 games left, so our job is to go out here and win as many games as possible. It's kind of hard to play games when you're thinking about not getting hurt."

After getting hit by a pitch in the first inning, Jeter beat out an infield single in the third and then lined a single to center in the eighth for his 3,314th and 3,315th career hits to pass Eddie Collins for ninth place on the all-time list. 

Due to discrepancies in historical record-keeping, accounts of Collins' career hits total differ. The Elias Sports Bureau is the official statistician of Major League Baseball and recognizes Collins as having 3,313 hits, while other sources -- including MLB.com -- credit him with 3,314 hits.