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Alex Rodriguez salutes the crowd after hitting his 600th career home run in the first inning Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The ball he hit 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.

The milestone provided a lift during a trying stretch for the Yankees, who moved back into a first-place tie with Tampa Bay in the AL East. They are mourning the deaths last month of owner George Steinbrenner, beloved public-address announcer Bob Sheppard and former manager Ralph Houk.

Rodriguez regretted the Boss wasn't around to witness the moment, even though it likely would have caused A-Rod grief. "I guess the last two weeks it wouldn't have been a lot of fun for me with him looking over us," Rodriguez said.

A-Rod's life changed in February 2009, when in response to a SportsIllustrated.com report, he admitted to using steroids while playing for the Texas Rangers from 2001-03, a span when he hit 156 homers. He also had major hip surgery, finally returning with a team-first outlook.

"Often in my career I've said things and it's been hot air and I haven't really followed through," he said. "But I think for the most part over the last two years I've done my best to walk the walk. And, again, I think I still have a lot of work to do, both on and off the field."

Rodriguez wound up 1 for 4 against Toronto, and Derek Jeter was 4 for 4 and scored three runs. Mark Teixeira drove in three runs with an RBI double in the third and a two-run single in the fifth to support Phil Hughes (13-4), who allowed one run and four hits in 5 1-3 innings.

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A-Rod became the fourth player in the past decade to reach 600 after none in 31 years. As part of his $275 million, 10-year deal signed after opting out of his contract during the 2007 World Series, he can earn up to $30 million more for five milestone homers: $6 million each for tying Mays, Ruth, Aaron and Bonds, and $6 million more for breaking the record.

A-Rod went 28 at-bats between Nos. 499 and 500, a slide that included an 0-for-21 stretch.

"As long as they don't have a zero at the end," he said, "I think I'm going to be OK.

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