Alex Rodriguez joins 3,000 hit club with home run off Justin Verlander

Alex Rodriguez has done it again. The embattled New York Yankees infielder reached another huge milestone Friday, becoming only the 29th member of Major League Baseball's 3,000 hit club.

Rodriguez got the drama out of the way quickly in Friday's 7-2 win against the Detroit Tigers, swinging at the first pitch he saw from right-hander Justin Verlander and lining it over the right-field wall for a solo home run. Because what else would you expect from A-Rod, right? When the spotlight has been on him this season, he's consistently responded.

Rodriguez finished the game with that lone hit in four at-bats.

The latest milestone adds another interesting layer to A-Rod's legacy. Given everything that's happened over the past three years, from the suspension, to his second hip surgery, to the possibility he wouldn't even be welcomed back by the Yankees, this moment almost didn't seem possible. There were too many questions and too many doubts serving as potential hurdles, but A-Rod has cleared them all, often with a smile on his face.

Rodriguez now joins Derek Jeter as only the second player to reach 3,000 hits while wearing a Yankees' uniform. Along with Jeter and Wade Boggs, he's the third player to reach 3,000 hits with a home run.

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Jeter is also the most recent player to reach 3,000 hits, joining the list on July 9, 2011 with a 5 for 5 performance against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Though notably absent from the lineup that historic afternoon as he prepared to undergo knee surgery, Rodriguez was still among the first to congratulate Jeter following his milestone hit, which was a no-doubt home run off David Price.

Speaking of Price, he was also in the building on Friday, but this time was a bystander as Verlander, Detroit's long time ace and cornerstone, became a footnote to history.

As A-Rod walked to the plate for his historic at-bat, he was greeted with a hero's welcome. For all of the doubts and consternation surrounding his return and how it might impact the team, Yankees fans have become more unified in their support with each step A-Rod has taken. His surprisingly productive season plays a role in that, obviously. But his business like approach in the clubhouse and on the field, coupled with an approachable attitude and his efforts to interact with fans, have helped earned back some trust.

A-Rod is also doing his part to give back to the game, agreeing to donate the historic bat used on Friday to the Hall of Fame.

As for the baseball, it's reported that notorious ball hawk Zack Hample made the grab. Where it ultimately ends up will be a very big story, as will the Yankees' promotion of the event based on their refusal to pay his home run bonus for tying Mays.

Of course, despite the overall positive reaction in New York, there will also be the usual reaction from pundits and doubting fans looking to cast a shadow over A-Rod's accomplishments. The debates will rekindle about whether this is truly an honorable milestone or another hollow product of his controversial past.

There's a place for such debates, but there's also a time and place to simply acknowledge an accomplishment and a moment in time that so few have experienced.

Friday night was that time. Yankee Stadium was the place.

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813