Tanaka takes next step toward return

Masahiro Tanaka isn’t far off from returning to the Yankees’ rotation after pitching a three-inning simulated game at the team’s complex in Tampa on Friday.

The right-hander, who has been out for three weeks with strained hamstrings in both legs suffered when he was running the bases against the Mets at Citi Field, said in English that the session went “very good.”

“I was able to throw with force and use all my pitches,” Tanaka told the AP through an interpreter after the 48-pitch session. “I feel good about it.”

Tanaka added he was unsure of where he would pitch next, but manager Aaron Boone said it was “likely” Tanaka will pitch a minor league rehab game in the middle of next week and then return to the Yankees’ rotation on their final road trip before the All-Star break.

“We’ll see how he responds [Saturday],” Boone said. “It was a good step in the right direction.”

➤ Brett Gardner was in the Yankees’ lineup Friday for their 8-1 win over the Red Sox after his scary collision into the left-field wall at Citizens Bank Park in Wednesday’s loss to the Phillies left him shaken up.

Gardner was checked out by the team’s training staff at Yankee Stadium on Thurs- day, when he showed up for

CC Sabathia’s charity event. “They were following up, making sure he was OK,” Boone said of Gardner, who remained in for the rest of Wednesday’s game.

Gardner reiterated Friday he felt no effects from the play.

“Zero,” said Gardner, who went 1-for-3 and made a sliding catch on Christian

Vazquez’s liner to start the fifth. ➤ With the arrival of Brandon Drury, Neil Walker would appear to have even a smaller role than he’s had for much of the season, which has mostly been a struggle. Boone, though, believes there’s a place for both Walker and Drury.

“It’s still a pretty small bench for us right now,’’ Boone said of reserve corps that on Friday consisted of Walker, Drury and Kyle Hi

gashioka — none of whom were needed. “I hope there are still spots to keep him as fresh as possible. I don’t know if [Walker’s] role necessarily changes that much.”

➤ Sonny Gray will start Saturday against Boston.

“Hopefully Sonny will continue to build on the momentum we feel he’s started to build over the last month,” Boone said. The manager added that

Domingo German, who pitched out of the bullpen in his most recent appearance, is back in the rotation and will start against the Braves next week. ➤ Boone said he expects

Austin Romine to start all three games against Boston, which is why he rested him Wednesday in Philadelphia before Thursday’s off day.

“As a guy that hasn’t played every day for a number of years, you don’t want to run him into the ground,’’ Boone said of Romine, who is the starting catcher because Gary Sanchez is on the DL with a strained right groin.