![]() Gary Sanchez has hit four home runs in his last four games. (Brian Bissell/Future Star Photos)
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The Yankees' No. 3 prospect continued to swing a hot bat on Thursday, launching a pair of homers and knocking in five runs as the Class A Charleston RiverDogs pounded the Greenville Drive, 13-2.
Sanchez's performance comes just two games after a three-hit, seven-RBI effort. Over his last four contests, the 19-year-old catcher has hit .389 (7-for-18) with four homers and 15 RBIs.
"I've felt real good all year," Sanchez said through a translator. "I had a little bit of a rough stretch [earlier this month], but I've been working hard and things are just going my way right now."
Sanchez recorded his first hit of the game in the third, when he lined an RBI double to left field. His next two hits were two-run homers -- he stroked one in the fifth off starter Jason Garcia, then went deep again in the sixth off reliever Tyler Wilson.
"I got ahead in the count both times and knew they had to throw fastballs to get back and I hit them," Sanchez said.
Sanchez's teammates also got in on the action. No. 8 prospect Dante Bichette Jr. homered and drove in two; No. 9 Cito Culver collected a double, a single and two RBIs; No. 15 Tyler Austin smacked two doubles and scored three times; and No. 17 Angelo Gumbs went deep and knocked in three.
"We all root for each other," Sanchez said. "It sort of pushes us when we all do well. We all want to succeed, and when one guy does well, it pushes us all along."
Signed as a 16-year-old free agent in 2009, Sanchez hit .329 with eight homers and 43 RBIs in 47 games the following year. He suffered some setbacks last season, however, leading to a demotion that he deemed a "reality check."
He said experience has helped him this time around, and the numbers bear that out. After batting .256 with 17 homers in 82 games in 2011, he is hitting .295 with seven long balls through 45 contests this year.
"I knew I had to work hard every day to get better," Sanchez said. "It's my second full season, and I know it's a long one. I feel like I prepared very well for this season."
Sanchez added he's not too concerned about a promotion to a higher level. He's focused only on what he has to do to succeed every day.
"Whatever happens, happens," he said. "I'm just here to work and do my job. Whatever happens, I'm leaving that up to the Yankees."
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