Sanchez has 17 career home runs. No player in history has had more through their first 44 career games. Wally Berger of the 1930 Boston Braves also had 17 through 44 games.
The rookie's blast made a winner of Luis Severino, who recorded four outs in relief after Yankees starter Michael Pineda struck out 11 over 5 1/3 innings. Brad Miller's two-run triple in the third inning accounted for the damage off Pineda, who scattered five hits with a walk.
Drew Smyly accepted a no-decision for Tampa Bay. The left-hander held the Yankees to Teixeira's fourth-inning homer, his 13th, allowing four hits over six innings.