INQUIRER Sports

ANAHEIM -- New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter recorded his 2,519th career hit Tuesday to pass Babe Ruth for second place on the venerable club's all-time list.

Jeter, 34, stroked a single off Angels starter Ervin Santana in the first inning, and added another hit in the 7-1 victory to take his total to 2,520.

Jeter had tied Ruth on Sunday.

Now he's chasing Lou Gehrig, who owns the Yankees career record for hits with 2,721.

On Sunday in Seattle, Jeter said he and the fading Yankees had more pressing concerns than his matching or surpassing Ruth.

"We're trying to win games," he said, but added: "Any time you mention guys like that, obviously it's an honor."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday that he thinks Jeter will appreciate the accomplishment more once the season is over.

"I think when he goes home for the winter and he's sitting around and sees the ball on his mantle, I think he's going to enjoy it," Girardi said. "A lot of players have a hard time enjoying things during the season."

Jeter is also chasing Gehrig for the all-time record of hits at Yankee Stadium. He is nine hits shy of catching Gehrig at 1,269 with 10 home games remaining this season in the Bronx.

He can resume that pursuit on Friday when the Yankees host the Tampa Bay Rays.

Jeter went into Tuesday's game batting .295 with 10 home runs and 67 RBIs. He made his Major League debut with New York in May 1995 and was named the Yankees' team captain in 2003.