Beltre joins elite club with hit No. 3,000

Adrian Beltre got his 3,000th career hit in a fitting way; a hard hit down the line past third base.

The 38-year-old Texas Rangers third baseman doubled Sunday during a 10-6 home loss to the Orioles to become the first player from the Dominican Republic, and 31st overall, to join the 3,000-hit club in the major leagues. Now in his 20th big league season, he is only the third player who is primarily a third baseman in the 3,000-hit club, joining Hall of Famers George Brett and Wade Boggs. Beltre is now tied for 30th place on the hits list with Roberto Clemente. A banner was unfurled high above straightaway center field congratulating him. His teammates, who had crowded on the rail of the first base dugout to be as close as possible to the historic moment, flooded onto the field to celebrate with him.

Beltre’s two daughters and 10-year-old son Adrian Jr. left their front-row seats near the dugout they had shared with family members, including Beltre’s parents.

“What happened today after the hit, it was the best moment in my life,” Beltre said.

MCCUTCHEN’S BIG DAY >> Andrew McCutchen hit three home runs for the third time in his career to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-1 win over the Padres. He connected with two outs in the first off left-hander Clayton Richard, went deep again in the eighth off rookie Jose Torres and then homered off the right-field foul pole with two outs in the ninth. It was McCutchen’s third multi-homer game of the season and 15th of his career.