ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Gary Sanchez is doing all he can to keep the New York Yankees in playoff contention.The rookie slugger hit his 17th homer in 42 games this season, a three-run shot in a four-run seventh inning that sent the Yankees past the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Tuesday night to snap a five-game skid.Amazing, incredible, impressive, teammate Mark Teixeira said. Hes carried us. Were not even close to talking about a playoff berth if Gary doesnt come up and do what he does.The banged-up Yankees moved within 3 1/2 games of Baltimore for the second AL wild card. New York would also have to jump over the Mariners, Astros and Tigers to earn a postseason berth.Sanchez tied Wally Berger of the 1930 Boston Braves for the most homers by a big league player through 44 career games, according to Baseball-Reference data available through 1913.Im enjoying it, especially when you win the game, Sanchez said through a translator.Sanchez gave the Yankees a 5-2 lead with his drive off Brad Boxberger (4-3). It was the young catchers sixth home run in 11 games following a 10-game drought.Hes meant a lot, New York manager Joe Girardi said. Offensively and defensively. Its kind of fitting that he got the big hit.Sanchezs shot came after Tampa Bay opted not to walk him with first base open and two outs.Had Boxy fallen behind, maybe youd think about it, but this is a guy whos gotten a lot of big outs for us in the past and trust him to get outs, Rays manager Kevin Cash said.Teixeira hit a solo shot in the fourth for New York, which was swept in a four-game series at Boston last weekend and had lost seven of eight overall.It was Teixeiras 407th homer, which tied Duke Snider for 54th place on baseballs career list. The switch-hitting first baseman has hit 204 for the Yankees, moving him past Roger Maris and into a tie with Robinson Cano for 14th in franchise history.I havent hit a ball right-handed like that in a long time, Teixeira said.Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (bruised right knee), third baseman Chase Headley (back spasms) and second baseman Starlin Castro (strained right hamstring) were all out of the lineup for the second straight game.Luis Severino (3-8) pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. Dellin Betances got three outs for his 12th save.New York starter Michael Pineda gave up two runs and struck out 11 in 5 1/3 innings.Brad Miller put the Rays up 2-0 with a two-run triple in the third.Tampa Bay lefty Drew Smyly allowed one run over six innings.TRAINERS ROOMYankees: Ellsbury didnt rule out starting Wednesday. ... Headley could be back late this week. ... OF Aaron Hicks (right hamstring) was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list.Rays: OF Steven Souza Jr. (left hip) and 1B Logan Morrison (left wrist) will both have surgery Wednesday. ... Utility man Nick Franklin (left hamstring) might not play again this season.KAPRIELIANS COMEBACKYankees minor league right-hander James Kaprielian, out since late April with an elbow injury, threw 30 pitches during his second batting practice session. The 2015 first-round draft pick might pitch in the Arizona Fall League. This year I learned a lot, and for me this is a big character test, Kaprielian said. Battle these frustrations. I think in the long run this is going to help me.UP NEXTYankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (13-4), who is 6-0 in his last eight starts, takes the ball Wednesday night. He is 5-0 in seven career starts against the Rays.Rays: RHP Alex Cobb (1-0) makes his fourth start since returning from Tommy John surgery. Charlotte Hornets Pro Shop . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. Stitched Hornets Jerseys . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. https://www.cheaphornets.com/545l-tony-parker-jersey-hornets.html .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Jersey . Siddikur, whose previous win on the circuit came in Brunei three years ago, finished his bogey-free round with a birdie on the 18th for a total of 17-under 199. Indias Shiv Chowrasia, who has finished runner-up in this tournament twice, was in second place after a 66. Malik Monk Jersey .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. PHILADELPHIA -- Serge Ibaka sank two free throws with 1.4 seconds to snap a tie game and send the Orlando Magic to a 103-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.The Magic rallied from an 18-point deficit to win for the first time in four games this season.Sixers center Joel Embiid lost his dribble at the top of the key and Orlando snagged the ball with 5.7 seconds left. Sixers guard T.J. McConnell was whistled for a flagrant foul on Ibakas layup attempt..ddddddddddddIbaka made both and the Magic retained possession and kept the Sixers winless.Embiid had two costly turnovers in the final minute for the Sixers.Ibaka scored 21 points and Nik Vucevic had 24 points and 14 rebounds.Hollis Thompson led the Sixers with 22 points. Embiid had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Dario Saric scored 21 points. ' ' '