Sanchez fastest to 19 career HRs: 45 games

ST. PETERSBURG — If this were a video game, the opponents would be certain that Gary Sanchez had snuck in a cheat code to make every pitch look like a grapefruit down the center of home plate.

This is real life, though, and the best pitchers in the world still have yet to find a consistent way to get Sanchez out. The 23-year-old rookie homered twice and drove in five runs on Wednesday, leading the Yankees to an 11-5 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” designated hitter Brian McCann said. “What he’s doing is so impressive. His swing, he doesn’t have any holes. When he’s seeing the ball and he’s laying off certain pitches, he’s extremely dangerous.”

• 8 facts about Sanchez’s mind-bending season

Going deep for the fourth consecutive game, Sanchez became the quickest player in big league history to hit 19 home runs, doing so in his 45th game. Wally Berger of the 1930 Boston Braves owned the previous record, having done so in his 51st game. It was Sanchez’s third career multihomer game.

“It’s great when you achieve something like that,” Sanchez said through an interpreter. “What makes it better is that you’re helping the team win.”

Sanchez’s at-bats have become must-see entertainment up and down the Yankees’ bench, and not just for the balls that clear the outfield wall. He has impressed with a quiet approach at the plate, including pitch recognition that his teammates already rate among the best on the roster.

“I heard someone say, ‘It’s not a surprise anymore,’ kind of …

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