BOSTON --- Xander Bogaerts made Red Sox history in the bottom of the fourth inning Saturday.

Bogaerts sent a one-out grounder through the vacant right side to beat the shift for his 1,000th career hit. The shortstop is just the third Boston player to reach the mark before turning 27, joining Hall of Famers Tris Speaker and Bobby Doerr.

"I came a long way," Bogaerts said. "I was hoping that it wouldn’t be in a game that we would lose. That’s one of the main [...]

BOSTON --- Xander Bogaerts made Red Sox history in the bottom of the fourth inning Saturday.

Bogaerts sent a one-out grounder through the vacant right side to beat the shift for his 1,000th career hit. The shortstop is just the third Boston player to reach the mark before turning 27, joining Hall of Famers Tris Speaker and Bobby Doerr.

“I came a long way,” Bogaerts said. “I was hoping that it wouldn’t be in a game that we would lose. That’s one of the main things I didn’t want to happen.”

Boston suffered a 5-1 defeat against the Yankees, and Bogaerts managed one of just five hits. He’s the 32nd player to collect as many hits with the Red Sox, and it comes late in a season where he’s already set a host of new career bests. His 31 home runs, 49 doubles, .386 on-base percentage, .572 slugging percentage and .958 OPS entering Saturday all represented new career highs.

“He’s having a career year,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “I do feel there are a few things he’s going to keep improving. If people don’t consider him the best shortstop in the big leagues, he should be in the conversation.”

Sept. 7 was already a significant date on the calendar for Bogaerts. His mother, Sandra Brown, celebrated her birthday at her Aruba home by having a watch party for the game. She sent Bogaerts a pregame text message urging him to record the milestone with family and friends watching.

“From a personal standpoint it was definitely a special day for me,” Bogaerts said. “My mom’s birthday, my first big league home run came against the Yankees on my mom’s birthday (in 2013) – it’s pretty neat.”

Bogaerts has also been a valuable mentor for Rafael Devers. The left side of Boston’s infield appears set for years to come with Bogaerts and Devers both under team control through at least the 2022 season. Bogaerts could opt out of his six-year, $120-million extension during that offseason.

“One is 26 and the other one is 22,” Cora said. “It’s good that it’s happening. It’s a combination that we’re very excited about – not only about what’s going on this year, but the upcoming years.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25