Rangers hold off Yankees

Staring down Yankees slugger Gary Sanchez in the ninth inning, Matt Bush looked the part of a poised closer, even if the Texas Rangers right-hander hasn’t felt it this week. Not after blowing saves on Monday and Friday.

Telling himself to breathe deep, Bush struck out Sanchez, stopping New York’s charge from a seven-run deficit and giving the Rangers a 7-6 victory Sunday.

“That should be a huge confidence builder for him,” manager Jeff Banister said.

Bush, a former top-overall draft pick as a shortstop who has salvaged a career following a prison sentence for drunk driving, has felt the weight of his recent struggles. After blowing a save last Monday against Toronto, Bush gave up a tying homer to New York’s Brett Gardner on Friday in a 2-1, 10-inning loss.

Bush got Sanchez swinging Sunday at a curveball in the dirt with Aaron Judge at first base, completing his ninth save. The closer said he was just trying to keep his mind in the right place on the Yankee Stadium mound.