Sanchez latest to test positive for COVID-19

Catcher is the third Yankee this week to test positive

NEW YORK — The 2021 Yankees have prided themselves on how they have bounced back from adversity time and again. Thursday they got another chance to do that when COVID-19 struck their roster again. Catcher Gary Sanchez tested positive for the coronavirus, Aaron Boone announced before the series opener against the Mariners at Yankee Stadium.

“He tested positive for COVID on the rapid test, he didn’t feel well (as he was) leaving last night and then woke up today not feeling great,” the Yankees manager said. “So he’s positive on the rapid test, he’ll now have the

PCR tests and we’ll find out, I guess, the official (results) later tonight.”

Sanchez is the third Yankees player to test positive this week and is part of the third outbreak the Yankees have had this season.

Monday night, Gerrit Cole tested positive after suffering what the team said was cold-like symptoms and the next day Jordan Montgomery tested positive.

“I guess I’m a little concerned about everything,” Boone said when asked if he was worried about further spread in the clubhouse. “I mean, we just gotta keep doing the best we can. And, actually, Gary was wearing a mask much of yesterday. I mean, we continue to get hit by some things. So we just have to deal with it the best we can and try to get the best care for our guys.”

Marlins 5, Mets 4: At Miami, Jorge Alfaro hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning and the Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets 4-2 on Thursday, taking three of four from the sagging NL East leaders.

New York has lost six of eight overall and is 2-4 since its big trade-deadline acquisition, Javier Báez, made his debut. Báez went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts on Thursday and is hitting .160 (4 for 25) with the Mets.

“Javi is a free swinger. That’s something we know we can probably work on and get better at,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said. “He’s going to be out there taking hacks. It’s a fight between him and the pitcher and those are the type of swings he takes.”