d 27,631 on Thursday. Before the homestand, New York had topped 30,000 for every home game since September 2004.The landscape has ch

NEW YORK -- Mark Teixeira rounded first base, raised his right arm in triumph and headed on a celebratory circle of the bases. New York Yankees fans called him out for a curtain call.I remember my first one, he said, and this may be the last.In the final weeks of a 14-year big league career, Teixeira broke open the game with a fourth-inning grand slam, and the surprising Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-5 on a soggy Friday night to extend their winning streak to six.Matching their longest streak this season, the Yankees (75-65) closed within one game of Baltimore and Detroit for the second AL wild card.We can taste it a little bit, Teixeira said. Were hungry right now.In an unfamiliar role of chaser after a 9-17 start, New York has moved a season-high 10 games over .500 with an unexpected spurt that followed the release of Alex Rodriguez and the trades of Carlos Beltran, Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Ivan Nova.Gary Sanchez, one of the Baby Bombers brought up from the minors as part of the youth movement, hit his 12th home run in 31 games, a drive into Monument Park behind the center-field fence in the third. The catcher also picked off a runner at second base from his knees.In a 1-for-17 slump and playing with a bulging disk in his neck and cartilage tear in his right knee, Teixeira started for just the fourth time this month. He needs 90-120 minutes with trainers to prepare for a start, a routine that includes acupuncture, soft tissue massage, laser therapy, ultrasound and hot rub. And the Yankees want to give time at first base to rookie Tyler Austin.Manager Joe Girardi looks at matchups and checks on Teixeiras health before deciding who starts.I have to watch his knee. I have to watch his neck, Girardi said. Sometimes day games after night games are tough,Teixeira doubled off the left-field wall in the third against Blake Snell (5-8) and scored on a wild pitch. With New York ahead 3-2 in the fourth and two outs, the 36-year-old switch-hitter took a fastball away from reliever Kevin Jepsen for a called strike, then watched a changeup hit the dirt.In my mind, Im like, hes going fastballs away, Teixeira said. I said if he makes that same pitch, fastball away, Im going to get out there.He got his bat head out early and drove a 94 mph fastball into the Yankees bullpen in right-center for his 12th home run this season, the 406th of his career, and his 11th big league slam.I didnt know how many more grand slams I had left in me, he said.There were stoppages of 21 minutes in the fourth and 22 minutes in the sixth caused by brief light rain. As a downpour began in the ninth, umpires stopped play with a 2-2 count on Brad Miller after singles by Kevin Kiermaier and Evan Longoria off Dellin Betances put runners at the corners.Betances stayed in after a 51-minute delay and struck out Miller. Logan Morrison hit an RBI single, and Betances fanned Stephen Souza Jr. at 12:11 a.m. for his career-best 10th save.I ran a bike for a little bit, got stretched, put some red-hot on my arm and just made sure I stayed as loose as I can, Betances said.Given a 7-2 lead, Yankees starter Michael Pineda lasted just 4 2/3 innings. When Girardi came to the mound with runners at the corners following a walk and an infield hit, Pineda avoided eye contact as he handed the ball to his manager, then walked slowly to the dugout as Chasen Shreve relieved.Im a little surprised, Pineda said. A little frustration.New York was ahead 3-0 before Morrison and Souza hit consecutive home runs in the fourth. Tampa Bay scored twice in the sixth before Adam Warren (2-1) threw a called third strike past Logan Forsythe. Tyler Clippard got three straight popouts with two on in the eighth.With each passing game, the Yankees sense they have a chance to reach the playoffs. Teixeira wants his finale to be in the postseason.Im emptying the tank, he said. I want to be a big part of this team ... whether its every other night, every third night, whatever it is.SMALL CROWDThe Yankees drew 30,194 after 27,532 on Tuesday and 27,631 on Thursday. Before the homestand, New York had topped 30,000 for every home game since September 2004.The landscape has changed a little bit. Some of the players the people used to come out and see a lot are no longer here, Girardi said. Some of these kids will build a reputation where people are going to get really excited. But part of it is school, too. I mean, that happens. So it will take some time.UP NEXTRHP Masahiro Tanaka (12-4) starts for the Yankees on Saturday against RHP Chris Archer (8-17). Tanaka is 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last six starts; Archer leads the major leagues in losses and strikeouts (211). Discount Soccer Jerseys . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph. Cheap Juventus Jerseys China . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. http://www.cheapsoccerchina.com/cheap-liverpool-jerseys-china_96s.html . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. Cheap Soccer Jerseys China . LOUIS -- St. Cheap Barcelona Jerseys China . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Guyana Amazon Warriors 139 for 2 (Mohammed 43*, Lynn 38*) beat St Lucia Zouks 138 for 6 (Hussey 64, Emrit 2-25, Zampa 2-30) by eight wicketsScorecard and ball-by-ball details An unbroken 82-run stand for the third wicket between Jason Mohammed and Chris Lynn helped Guyana Amazon Warriors beat St Lucia Zouks by eight wickets at Providence in Guyana. A fifth win in six matches helped Warriors consolidate their top spot in the CPL 2016 standings.Zouks recovered from twin blows in the first over - Sohail Tanvir, the Pakistan pacer, had dismissed openers Johnson Charles and Shane Watson - to post 138 for 6 after being sent in to bat. The innings was steered by Michael Hussey, who top scored with a 50-ball 64. Three other batsmen got into double digits, with David Millers 23 being the second highest in the innings.Zouks were devoid of momentum, and were struggling at 44 for 3 at the halfway mark. It needed a 62-run stand in seven overs between Hussey and Miller to give the innings a lift. Amazon Warriors Adam Zampa, the Australia legspinner, picked up two wickets to become the highest wicket-taker in the competition aat this stage, with 12 scalps.ddddddddddddWarriors were lucky early in the chase as Martin Guptill was reprieved twice in the space of six deliveries. He contributed 19 in a 55-run opening stand with Dwayne Smith before being caught and bowled by Derone Davis, the left-arm spinner, in the seventh over. Six balls later, Smith was sent back for 32 by Shane Shillingford, the offspinner, to leave Warriors at 57 for 2.But the required rate of a run-a-ball by the halfway mark allowed Mohammed and Lynn to steer clear of any pressure. The pair hit six sixes between them as Amazon Warriors won at a canter, with 16 balls to spare.Pitches are slow and low here, but the one we played on today was a lot better, Mohammed said after the game. Having lost the last game, the boys were extra motivated to win here. We knew we had the skill-sets to chase this target down, and were happy with the way it worked out. Were a win away from qualifying for the playoffs, but its important to ride this momentum. ' ' '