Sizzling Yankees move within 1 game of Tigers

New York — Tyler Austin wasn’t sure if Yankees manager Joe Girardi would let him face a right-hander in the ninth inning.

Switch-hitting veteran Mark Teixeira was still on the bench, and the right-handed hitting Austin isn’t far removed from a long slump.

Girardi stuck with the rookie, and he came through, helping the Baby Bombers continue their unlikely push into postseason contention.

Austin hit a solo homer in the ninth to give New York its season-high fifth straight victory, 5-4 over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.

Brian McCann hit two homers for the Yankees, who moved a season-high nine games over .500 (74-65).

After blowing three leads during the first six innings, New York moved within two games of Baltimore for the second AL wild card and four games of AL East-leading Boston. Resurgent New York plays 20 of its remaining 23 games against division opponents, putting it in position to compete despite selling off key pieces at the Aug. 1 deadline.

The Yankees are within one game of the Tigers, who open a three-game series against Baltimore on Friday in Detroit.

“I think everybody in this clubhouse believes that we can make a push at this thing and get in the postseason,” Austin said. “It’s an exciting time right now.”

Austin homered off Erasmo Ramirez (7-11) on a 3-2 pitch for his third homer since being called up Aug. 13. Teammates met him at home plate by dousing him with water in a raucous celebration.

“That was a huge team win for us,” Austin said, “and a special moment.”

A long one coming, too. Injuries and poor performance slowed Austin’s climb through the minors, and in 2015, he was demoted from Triple-A to Double-A during the season. He opened back at Double-A Trenton again this season, a disappointing assignment, but then forced his way to the majors with his bat.

“I didn’t give up, kept battling and you know, here we are,” he said.

After homering in his big league debut, Austin entered a 4-for-33 slump that ended Sunday. He since has a five-game hitting streak.

Girardi decided to let the 25-year-old Austin bat because Ramirez has better numbers against left-handed hitters.

“And he’s in the game,” Girardi said of Austin. “A lot of times it’s a lot easier if you’re in the game.”

The pesky Rays kept coming back, getting two homers each from Kevin Kiermaier and Steven Souza by the sixth. This was the first game this season in which three players had multiple homers, per the Elias Sports Bureau.