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Palmeiro approaches three thousandth hit

The only thing missing from a near-perfect weekend for the Baltimore Orioles was having Rafael Palmeiro get his 3,000th hit.

That really didn`t matter much to Palmeiro, as in defeating the Boston Red Sox 3 out of 4 games the O`s were able to move within two games of the current first place BoSox in the American League East.

"I wasn`t just trying to get hits. I was trying to be productive," Palmeiro said. "I`m hitting cleanup."

Baltimore entered the recent series of games having lost 11 of 13 games, so the pressure was on for them to win.

The Orioles resume play Thursday after the All-Star Break with a four-game series against Seattle at Safeco Field, then travel to Minnesota and Tampa Bay, which for Baltimore fans means Palmeiro will almost certainly get his 3,000th hit on the road rather than at home. A pity for Camden Yards regulars, but a great accomplishment nonetheless.