Yankees Sanchez Connects On 1st MLB HR, As NY Beats Boston 9-4

Gary Sanchez- Photo by Gabe Rodriguez/LOD

With all of the wheeling and dealing by the trade deadline and the drama the last few days with Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees still find themselves just 4.5 games out of the Wild Card Spot.

It is obvious now that the Yankees are looking to possibly rekindle the days when their farm system became their every day stars which led to their continue dynasty in the late ’90s and early ’00. And last night one of their bright prospects had a monster game.

Gary Sanchez, the Dominican born catcher hitting in the DH spot, had four hits in five at bats, including his first MLB homer of his career, and it came against rival Boston Red Sox at Fenway park in the heat of a pennant race. It was a majestic shot, a bomb to left center field to add to the Yankees lead at time making the score 7-4.

The Yankees actually trailed in this game 4-1 through six innings, but late heroics would keep this team alive in an improbably playoff hunt.

In the top of the 7th, Didi Gregorius singled to lead off the inning. Then Sanchez singled moving the Yankees shortstop to second base. Next catcher Austin Romine singled on an 0-1 count scoring Gregorius from second and moving Sanchez up a base.

After the Yankees pinch-hit for Aaron Hicks with Alex Rodriguez, he flied out to right field, and Sanchez tagged up and advanced to third.

Jacoby Ellsbury then hit a two out single scoring Sanchez and Romine advanced to third with the tying run. Next batter Chase Headley tied the game on a single to left field, as Romine crossed he plate. The soon to be retired Mark Teixeira then walked to load the bases and Starlin Castro doubled to left field scoring two and putting the Yankees up for good at 6-4.

In the top of the 8th, the Bronx Bombers added three more runs, highlighted by Sanchez’s first dinger for his career.

With the victory the Yankees improved to a game over .500 at 57-56, while the Red Sox dropped to 61-51, while also losing ground on the 1st place Toronto Blue Jays and falling back to 2.5 games out of the AL East lead.

But Boston still holds one of the Wild Card spots as the Yankees are now just 4.5 games back with plenty of time to get hot and make a run.

Featured photo credit: Jim Rogash/Getty Images

David Conde

David is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Legends On Deck®, as well as a Co-Host on Legends On Deck Podcast. David was a Senior Editor for MetsMerizedOnline.com, MetsMinors.net and Contributor for Hardballchat.com that spanned from 2010 to 2014. David made his MLB Debut as a writer in June 2014, while covering the NY Mets at Citi Field, for MetsmerizedOnline.com. David also coaches baseball for ages 13-15, a Babe Ruth League team in his local community. David's passion is coaching the game he loves to the future Legends of Tomorrow as well as making available a website that people can have fun sharing and reading. David is also passionate about his career as a Mortgage Loan Officer which allows him to help many families reach their dreams of owning a home. Connect with David via his Social Media pages as he loves to chat all about baseball.