Rodriguez hits 600th homer off Jays' Marcum

Alex Rodriguez hit the 600th home run of his career Wednesday, snapping a 46-at-bats funk without a homer by drilling a 2-0 pitch from Toronto's Shaun Marcum over the centre-field fence at Yankee Stadium.

Rodriguez's two-run homer helped the Yankees defeat the Blue Jays 5-1.

"It sure has been a while," he said later, "but it definitely felt good to get a big home run and help us win."

The third baseman raised a hand slightly in triumph as he rounded the bases in the bottom of the first inning and was congratulated by Yankees captain Derek Jeter at home plate, three years to the day after he swatted his 500th homer.

Rodriguez, who also halted an 0-for-17 skid at the plate, received kudos from his other teammates and emerged from the New York dugout for a curtain call. He also tipped his cap to the Yankees faithful when he took the field in the second.

He joins a select group, becoming just the seventh player in major-league history to hit 600 home runs. Rodriguez is also the second Yankee to achieve the feat, joining Babe Ruth, who hit 714 long balls. Barry Bonds leads with 762.

At 35, A-Rod is the youngest player to hit 600 home runs. Ruth accomplished the feat at 36 years, 196 days. The Sultan of Swat did it in fewer games, though — 2,044 to 2,227 for Rodriguez.

Rodriguez hadn't gone deep since homering off Kansas City relief pitcher Robinson Tejeda on July 22, a stretch during which he batted 9-for-46.

"I just wanted to get a base hit," he said, "and I talked to a few of my teammates yesterday and they just wanted me to go out there and relax and not try to do too much."

He made no mistake on an 85-mile-per-hour fastball from Marcum, who had held the Yankees star to a .235 career average and a single home run in 17 previous at-bats.

The ball landed in Monument Park, allowing a stadium worker to retrieve it for him.

It was the 104th specially marked one that had been used for each of his plate appearances since reaching No. 599. The Yankees immediately put commemorative T-shirts on sale at concession stands for $25 each, and one stand behind home plate sold out within two innings.

Rodriguez entered Wednesday's contest hitting .264 in 100 games with 16 home runs and 85 runs batted in.

"I'm definitely glad it's over and I definitely enjoyed that moment, enjoyed the win," said Rodriguez, who called it "50-50" when asked how much of home run No. 600 was exhilaration and how much was relief. "We needed to stop the bleeding. That's a good team over there."

The milestone homer provided a lift during a trying stretch for the Yankees. Not only have they watched the Tampa Bay Rays pass them for first place in the American League East standings, off the field they are still mourning the recent loss of owner George Steinbrenner, beloved public-address announcer Bob Sheppard and former manager Ralph Houk.

Admitted to steroid use

In the three years since hitting No. 500, much has changed for Rodriguez.

During a tumultuous spring training of 2009, he admitted using steroids while playing for the Texas Rangers from 2001-03. He also had major hip surgery that kept him out the first month last year, as the team adjusted to high-profile newcomers CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira without him.

Rodriguez returned with a fresh outlook that put the team first, helping lead the Yankees to their first World Series championship since 2000 and reversing a trend of personal playoff failures.

Even though he went homerless in his first 41 at-bats this year and has connected at a much slower rate, compared with the rest of his career, the 13-time all-star has been saying that No. 600 is merely a springboard to better things — mainly helping his team win, but also reaching Bonds's record of 762 home runs.

Being the home run king comes with a tarnished crown, though.

After Bonds eclipsed Aaron's record with his 756th in 2007 amid accusations of steroid use — something Bonds vehemently denies — talk immediately turned to A-Rod, who days earlier had become the fastest to No. 500. He was supposed to be the player who would restore credibility to American sports' most cherished record, but that all changed two years later.

100 homers for 3 teams

In response to a SportsIllustrated.com report and mounting speculation, A-Rod admitted using steroids while he hit 156 homers with Texas. He has 255 with the Yankees and 189 with the Seattle Mariners, who picked him No. 1 in 1993 amateur draft.

Rodriguez is among only three players, along with Reggie Jackson and Darrell Evans, to hit 100 home runs for three different teams.

For one of the most scrutinized players in baseball, there was little fanfare in the run-up to No. 600, perhaps it's Steroid Era fatigue or the fact that Rodriguez became the fourth player to reach the mark in the last 10 years after none in 31 years.

The pursuit of the home run record gets lucrative now. As part of his 10-year, $275-million-US, 10-year deal signed after opting out of his contract during the 2007 World Series, Rodriguez can earn up to $30 million more for six milestone homers. The first would tie Willie Mays.

He would get $6 million more each time for matching Ruth, Aaron and Bonds and breaking the record.

Rodriguez hit No. 100 in August 1998 with Seattle, No. 200 in May 2001 and No. 300 in April 2003 with Texas. His 400th home run came on June 8, 2005, against Milwaukee during his second season with the Yankees.