Makes Sanchez hero
season). But this one is definitely up there.”
For all of the questions about Sanchez’ defensive play, the 25-year-old backstop continues to be a lethal offensive weapon.
Aaron Judge set the major-league record last week for getting to 60 career home runs faster than anyone in history, doing so in just 197 games.
Thursday marked Sanchez’ 198th career game in pinstripes. The Kraken now has 59 homers, nearly identical power numbers.
And despite hitting just .202 through 21 appearances in 2018, Sanchez already has 21 RBI, second-most on the team behind Didi Gregorius’ 29.
“Anytime you go out there to hit, you’ve got to have confidence. I wasn’t getting the results I wanted earlier in the game, but it doesn’t matter when, you still have to go up with confidence,” Sanchez said. “I was just looking for a good pitch to hit there. I noticed throughout the game they were pitching me inside,a lot of sinkers inside, and I know Fernando Rodney is a good pitcher and throws hard. Really, I was just looking for something I could make solid contact.”
After Gregorius (error) and Giancarlo Stanton (infield single) reached base ahead of him, Sanchez clobbered an 0-1 fastball from Rodney inside the left-field foul pole. It marked only the Yanks’ third walk-off blast when down by at least two runs since 2003, joining Chris Young (2014) and Mark Teixeira (2016).
“It’s still pretty early (in his career). So I think he’s got another one in him coming,” Boone said when informed that Sanchez never previously had belted a game-ending homer for the Yanks. “Sometimes those things are a little more random and sometimes they don’t always pitch to really good hitters in those spots.
“But he had a really confident look up there. Good job by Didi and G in creating that traffic and creating an opportunity. To finish off the home stand like that was pretty neat … If we can get traffic on the bases, we’re always one swing away with our guys. Gary, with a big one today.”