A-Rod passes Bonds on all-time RBI list
NEW YORK -- It was another night of milestones and celebrated names for Alex Rodriguez on Friday, as the Yankees slugger moved past Barry Bonds in lifetime RBIs and edged Stan Musial on the all-time runs scored as part of his first four-hit game since 2011.
Rodriguez went 4-for-5 with a run scored, knocking home a run with a fifth-inning single in the Yankees' 8-7 victory over the Angels. The four hits give Rodriguez 2,991 for his career, placing him just nine away from joining the 3,000-hit club.
Video: LAA@NYY: A-Rod on passing Bonds on RBI list, win
"It just means I'm getting older, every day," said Rodriguez, who turns 40 next month. "I'm happy. I'm in a good place. It doesn't escape me that all these milestones are coming at home in front of our fans.
"The fans, for me, have been a huge part of this. They've welcomed me from Day One in Tampa and New York and made me feel very comfortable."
Video: LAA@NYY: A-Rod moves into second on all-time RBI list
Rodriguez's sharp single to right-center field off Angels right-hander Jered Weaver knocked home Brett Gardner for the 1,997th RBI of Rodriguez's career, moving him past Bonds into second place all time, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Henry Aaron is first on baseball's all-time RBI list with 2,297, according to Elias, the official statistician of Major League Baseball. Because RBIs became an official Major League statistic in 1920, Elias' tally begins at that date.
"The names, the people that he's passing; these are all incredible players," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "There's a lot of years that he's been extremely productive, and he's being productive again."
Due to the uncertain nature of record-keeping in the early part of the 20th century, some discrepancies may exist between the stats provided today by different historical data providers.
MLB.com utilizes different statistics than Elias. By MLB.com's count, Rodriguez is third on the all-time RBI list behind Aaron (2,297) and Ruth (2,213). MLB.com takes into account RBIs accumulated by Ruth before 1920.
Willie Mays, whom Rodriguez eclipsed on the all-time home run list earlier this season, is in seventh place on the runs scored list with 2,062. Rodriguez would be the first member of the 3,000-hit club since former teammate Derek Jeter, who accomplished the feat in July 2011.
"You think about it when the year starts; you think you have an opportunity," Rodriguez said. "But I'm focused on helping the team win each and every day -- we're doing that, and I'm having fun."