Gregorius exits with sore calf

ARLINGTON, Texas. — Didi Gregorius moved gingerly through the Yankees’ clubhouse late Friday night after fouling a ball off his right calf in the eighth inning of an 11-5 loss to the Rangers.

He remained in the game, grounded out and then was replaced by Ronald Torreyes at short in the ninth. He was treated with ice and vowed to play Saturday.

“It’s swollen. I got myself good,’’ said Gregorius, who hit his career-best 21st homer in the third inning.

Asked if he might need a day to recover, Gregorius didn’t want to hear about that.

“I don’t want to sit down, especially now,’’ he said. “It means a lot.’’

With 22 games remaining, the Yankees trail the AL Eastleading Red Sox by 4 ½ games. ➤ The Yankees won two of the three games Gary Sanchez missed while suspended in Baltimore and scored 22 runs in the series, so they didn’t melt without the catcher’s productive bat.

Yet, they were certainly looking forward to having Sanchez return to the lineup for Friday night’s at Global Life Park.

“It’s really good to have him back,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of the Sanchez, who entered Friday night’s action with seven homers and 20 RBIs in the previous 17 games before the three-game ban started Monday. “You hope he is not rusty. You want him to pick up where he left off.’’

Sanchez went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs, but Yankees pitchers threw four wild pitches that Sanchez didn’t block. Girardi praised Austin Rom

ine’s work filling in for Sanchez as the backup catcher served his one-game suspension Friday night. Sanchez and Romine were suspended for their involvement in a brawl between the Yankees and Tigers in Detroit on Aug. 24. ➤ Back from a visit to Dr. Chris Ahmad and having the right knee drained, CC Sabathia will throw a bullpen session Saturday and start against the Rays on Monday night at Citi Field. ➤ Jaime Garcia threw a fourinning simulated game Friday afternoon at Global Life Park and Girardi said there was a “good chance we will slot him in Wednesday.’’ ➤ The Yankees will evaluate

Clint Frazier on Monday to see if he can come off the DL and add depth to a depleted outfield.

“I think we will probably evaluate him after this weekend and see where he is at and if he is ready to go,’’ Girardi said of Frazier.