NEW YORK -- Cameron Maybin did not need to study the pixels of the 103-foot high-definition screen in center field to know that he had scored the winning run in Tuesday's 5-4 Yankees victory, although the Mariners had nothing left to lose by asking the replay officials in Manhattan to take a look.

Certain that he had safely slid past catcher Omar Narvaez, Maybin commenced celebrating the stunning three-run rally with his teammates, continuing what has been a most enjoyable 1 1/2 weeks in pinstripes after the club purchased his contract from the Indians' Triple-A roster on April 25.

"I knew I was safe," Maybin said. "It's fun to be on the winning side, especially after a [72-minute rain] delay, coming from behind. That's what it's about. It's what this team continues to show; a lot of fortitude, a lot of belief in each other. What a big win."

Maybin joked that he had "decided to kill a rally" in the eighth inning, grounding back to the mound for a double play, but he atoned by following Gio Urshela's game-tying homer with a single that chased Anthony Swarzak. With Roenis Elias on to pitch, Maybin stole second to move into scoring position before DJ LeMahieu hit the walk-off single to right field.

"Obviously, Gio had the big hit, but then there was the Cameron Maybin at-bat," manager Aaron Boone said. "It's been those kinds of at-bats that he's had since he's gotten here; controlled the strike zone, didn't try and do too much, set it up. … That's been the coolest thing about this group so far; guys not doing necessarily more than they're capable of, but going out there and doing their part."

Entering play on Wednesday, Maybin has reached base in 15 of 31 plate appearances, for a .484 on-base percentage, and Boone continues to work him into the lineup alongside Clint Frazier, Brett Gardner and Mike Tauchman.

Maybin hit safely in his first seven games for New York, including his debut on April 26 in San Francisco, and credits hitting coach Marcus Thames for helping to hone his swing.

"Marcus has been great to me, kind of continuing to iron some things out," Maybin said. "I'm still not where I want to be, but I've just been able to get myself in a really good position to control the strike zone and swing at my pitches. That's my game -- having tough at-bats, getting on base. When I get on base, good things happen. I'm continuing to try to do that, be a pest and score runs."

Greetings and salutations

The Yankees have received contributions from unexpected players this season, including one player Boone had not even met until just before the scheduled first pitch of a game. He was asked what he says to make those newcomers instantly comfortable in the clubhouse.

"Whassup, bro?" Boone said, drawing laughter. "I just try and welcome them in my way. I think our clubhouse does a really good job of that. You think of guys like CC [Sabathia] and [Gardner] that have been here a long time and have, in a lot of ways, established a culture here."

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The aforementioned new player was pitcher Jake Barrett, who shook hands with Boone for the first time while waiting on the pregame food line in the players' lounge last weekend. But the idea extends to others, such as Thairo Estrada, Mike Ford, Joe Harvey, Maybin, Tauchman and Urshela, none of whom was being counted on when the Yankees reported to Tampa, Fla., in February.

"New York can be big," Boone said. "Playing here can be big. You want them to feel comfortable, feel at home in the room. I think our guys do a great job of that, and I try to be part of that."

Comeback trail

Aaron Hicks went 0-for-4 with a strikeout on Tuesday while serving as the designated hitter for Class A Advanced Tampa, and is scheduled to play at least seven innings in center field on Wednesday.

"There’s a chance he could be activated this weekend," Boone said. "It's something that we’re starting to talk through. It could be this weekend, or it could be the start of the homestand when we get back. We’ll kind of talk through that here in the last 24 to 48 hours."

Giancarlo Stanton performed tee-and-toss exercises on Tuesday, according to Boone, who said the slugger is scheduled to do the same on Wednesday. Boone said that Stanton could hit off a pitching machine on Wednesday as well.

"Hopefully he continues to ramp up," Boone said. "Nothing much more to report on him. Hopefully it starts to move now pretty well. We’ll see."

This date in Yankees history

May 8, 2010: Mark Teixeira joined Lou Gehrig as the only Yankees to hit three home runs in a game against the Red Sox, going deep in the fifth, seventh and ninth innings of a 14-3 win at Fenway Park. Hicks became the third member of that exclusive club in 2018.