NEW YORK _ Gary Sanchez has been a lightning rod for criticism these last few years, the constant subject of scorn for his struggles behind the plate and his perceived lack of hustle.
But when he's healthy and right, Sanchez can be a force in the middle of the Yankees' lineup, the owner of a potent bat who can elevate the team's offense.
Just like he did Saturday night.
Sanchez blasted a two-run homer in the fifth inning off Rick Porcello to power the Yankees to a 5-3 victory before a sell-out crowd of 46,307 at Yankee Stadium.
It was Sanchez's 18th home run of the season, matching his total from his injury-marred 2018 season.
Aroldis Chapman had a shaky ninth, putting two runners on to start the inning. But the lefty got J.D. Martinez to ground into a double play before retiring Rafael Devers to end the game and pick up the save.
The Yankees (38-19) keep on hitting and they keep on winning, moving to a season-high 19 games over .500.
They've now won nine consecutive series, their longest streak since 1998.
Domingo German lasted just 3 2/3 innings in a tough outing, but the Yankees' offense and another strong showing from the bullpen bailed him out.
The Yankees had five singles in the bottom of the second inning, including an RBI single from Gio Urshela and a two-run single from DJ LeMahieu before Sanchez's blast two innings later stamped the win.
Kendrys Morales, who was just 5 for 39 as a Yankee, went 3 for 4.
German had been one of the bigger surprises for the Yankees, stepping into a big role in the rotation and thriving with Luis Severino sidelined. The right-hander was mostly brilliant through the first two months of the season, becoming the first pitcher in the major leagues to reach the nine-win mark.
He encountered his first significant struggles in his previous outing when he yielded seven runs on nine hits in five innings to the Kansas City Royals.
Manager Aaron Boone was confident before Saturday's game that German wasn't on the verge of falling into a sustained stretch of struggles.
"I think he understands how good he is and still can be," Boone said. "He knows that he has three pitches he can strike in any count _ three above-average major league pitches that he can strike in any count, and I think that gives him comfort. I expect him to go out against a very good lineup today and if he makes his pitches he has a chance to have real success."
German was better, but he couldn't come through with the type of outing the Yankees were hoping for.
He gave up three singles in the second inning, which led to a run for the Red Sox (29-29). After a 1-2-3 third, German ran into more trouble in the fourth when he yielded a solo home run to Xander Bogaerts before Brock Holt singled, Michael Chavis walked and Sandy Leon drove Holt in with another single to tie the game with two outs.
That was the final batter German faced as Boone turned to his bullpen.
His relievers did the job, though it wasn't always easy.
The Red Sox had runners on second and third with one out in the fifth before Chad Green fanned Holt and Chavis to escape the frame.
In the sixth, Tommy Kahnle gave up singles to Leon and Mookie Betts before getting Andrew Benintendi to fly out to center.
Boone then brought in Adam Ottavino, who struck out Martinez to get the Yankees out of trouble.
