Shot to facemask bruises Sanchez

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla — Gary Sanchez is banged up. The 24-year-old catcher sat out Friday to rest a stiff neck. He returned Saturday and was struck in the mask by a foul ball, suffering bruising on the right side of his face near the jaw line.

Sanchez and Joe Girardi said they will see how he feels Sunday before determining his availability.

“I was a little worried,” Girardi said. “I’m going to see how he is when I’m done here.”

Sanchez went 2-for-4 in the Yankees’ 9-5 loss to the Rays, launching his fourth homer of the season. He is currently hitting .303.

Sanchez didn’t know how he got a stiff neck, saying he just woke up with it on Friday morning. He was available in case of emergency, but was not called on to pinch-hit in the ninth despite the fact the Yankees trailed the Rays 5-4.

“We could use him if we had to, but we were trying to stay away from him because we wanted to play him today, and we really didn’t know how he would react up there with a stiff neck,” Girardi said. “Those are issues that we have to deal with that we don’t always share, but we had to deal with it.”

Chasen Shreve was seen shaking his arm during his 1.1-inning appearance Saturday, but remained in the game after being visited by the training staff and throwing a couple warm-up pitches. Shreve has yet to allow a run this season. Saturday) sported a bandage over a burn on his elbow. Castro said he fell hard on his hip after Judge (1-for-4, homer Saturday) knocked him in the shoulder. “I think if he got all of me I’d be in the hospital today,” Castro said with a laugh. “I feel really lucky. Thank god nothing worse happened.” Joe Girardi hadn’t seen the collision because he was attending his daughter Serena’s high school graduation and missed Friday’s game. “It was one of those things as a father that you feel you need to share them with your kids. “It was a special day.” … Tyler Austin (ankle/foot) started his rehab assignment at DoubleA Trenton Saturday after being rained out at class A Tampa Friday. He went 1-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and a walk. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Matt Holliday doesn’t mind the heat.

On Friday night, Holliday belted a game-tying, two-run homer off a 100.2-mph fastball from Rays rookie flamethrower Ryne Stanek. In doing so, the Yankees’ 37-year-old DH became the first player this season to go deep against a triple-digit pitch, according to Statcast.

“I’d never seen the guy