Sanchez keeps up ‘amazing’ run with 17th HR

ST. PETERSBURG — Surely, there were pitchers in 1927 who could not wait to test their skills against Babe Ruth, who went to battle against Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in 1961, or who grumbled on a nightly basis when their club was handing out intentional walks to Barry Bonds in 2001.

In that vein, you almost have to admire Brad Boxberger, who was given the option of facing either Sanchez or Billy Butler in the seventh inning on Tuesday. Boxberger chose the hot-hitting rookie, who bashed a three-run homer that lifted the Yankees to a 5-3 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Sanchez said that he wasn’t sure if Tampa Bay was going to pitch to him, but when they did, he was ready.

• #AwardWorthy: Vote Sanchez for Best Rookie

“That’s something I don’t have any control of,” Sanchez said through an interpreter. “I went up there looking for a fastball; it was not a fastball, it was a slider. It was right there, and I was able to put a good swing on that pitch.”

Boxberger’s 83-mph hanger was crushed over the wall at 108 mph and traveled a projected 437 feet, according to Statcast™. Sanchez has homered in three consecutive games, six times in the past 11 games and 17 times this season, tying Wally Berger of the 1930 Braves for the most in history through 44 games.

“There are a lot of words: amazing, incredible, impressive,” Mark …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com