New York Daily News

Boone fine with Gleyber’s bunt

- BY JUSTIN TASCH

Gleyber Torres has shown off an impressive bat in less than a month of MLB action, displaying it in the third inning Friday when he hit a home run. His decision not to swing away in the seventh, however, likely changed the dynamic of the whole inning. After singles by Miguel Andujar and Austin Romine to begin the frame, Torres tried to bunt for a hit of his own accord and ended up sacrificin­g the runners over while giving away an out. Aaron Judge ultimately drew a bases loaded walk to bring the Yankees within one, but that’s all they got that inning before losing to Oakland, 10-5.

Torres said he did not wish he swung in hindsight. “I feel good because I help my team in the opportunit­y to move the runners,” said Torres, who extended his hit streak to nine games.

Aaron Boone supported Torres’ decision with the third baseman playing back, though he admitted he’d rather have Torres swing considerin­g his .344 average thus far.

“Yeah, but I’m OK with our guys, when they see an opportunit­y at a hit in that spot, to take a shot at that,” Boone said. “I have no issue with the play.”

wHAt’s tHE cAtcH?

Sonny Gray had been pitching much better with Austin Romine behind the plate instead of Gary Sanchez, but Friday it didn’t matter. Gray gave up five runs in five innings as Romine caught Gray for the fourth straight start.

Boone said before the game that at some point Sanchez would catch Gray again, but he wasn’t sure when.

“We just kind of go start to start right now,” Boone said before Gray’s first start against his former team. “With Gary three in a row, day game (Saturday,) this is another opportunit­y where he’s not gonna catch both of those games so it’s easy to slot (Romine) in there (Friday.)”

Afterward Boone said “I’m always considerin­g it,” with regard to the Gray-Romine battery, but chalked the performanc­e up to just being one start. In Gray’s six starts with Romine catching this season, he now has a 4.55 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings; in two starts with Sanchez he allowed 11 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings with three strikeouts.

Boone said Tommy Kahnle (right shoulder tendonitis) has a chance to rejoin the Yankees at the back end of their upcoming eightgame road trip, which begins Tuesday in Washington. Adam Warren (right back strain) won’t be back for the trip. … Boone and Yankees brass will discuss Brandon Drury’s status this weekend. Drury, out since April 7 with a longstandi­ng migraine issue, will complete the 20th and final day of his rehab assignment on Monday. Drury hit a grand slam in the second game of Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s doublehead­er. … Greg Bird (ankle surgery) and Billy McKinney (left shoulder sprain) will move their rehab assignment­s from Class-A Tampa to Double-A Trenton next week. Bird went 1-for-2 with a run, RBI and two walks Friday. … Justus Sheffield left Game 1 of Scranton’s doublehead­er after 3 2/3 innings with shoulder tightness but it’s not considered serious.

 ?? GETTY ?? Red-hot rookie Gleyber Torres decides to bunt in big situation for Yankees on Friday night at Stadium.
GETTY Red-hot rookie Gleyber Torres decides to bunt in big situation for Yankees on Friday night at Stadium.
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