A HAMMY WHAMMY
Already without Sanchez, Romine listed day-to-day
Austin Romine left Saturday’s 11-0 loss to the Red Sox in the seventh inning with tightness in his left hamstring.
An MRI exam after the game was negative and Romine is listed as day-today, but the Yankees hardly can afford to be without Romine for long — especially since Gary Sanchez remains on the disabled list with a strained right groin.
Kyle Higashioka replaced Romine behind the plate and popped out in the bottom of the eighth. He’s now 0-for-21 to start his MLB career since making his debut with the Yankees a year ago.
Aaron Boone admitted to being concerned about Romine’s hamstring and with Sunday’s temperature supposed to be near 100 degrees, he could start Higashioka.
Neil Walker is the Yankees’ emergency catcher.
Giovanny Gallegos, who gave up three runs in two innings, was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/WilkesBarre after the game.
There was a familiar sight in The Bronx on Saturday, with former dis- graced slugger Alex Rodriguez on the field at Yankee Stadium as his two jobs came together.
The ESPN analyst and special advisor to general manager Brian Cashman chatted with several Yankees, as well as Cashman, and Rodriguez is among those who believe Sanchez is the team’s best hitter — but acknowledged the catcher needs to put it all together.
“He’s a hybrid of Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz,’’ Rodriguez said. “The other element he has to control is being in great shape, healthy, engaged and the staff has to get him there.”
That’s been hard to do
this season, with Sanchez struggling to stay healthy and productive.
“Anytime you have an injury like this, you’re out two or three weeks, it gives you a chance to press delete, reset and get ready for the second half of the year, when the Yankees are gonna need you most,’’ Rodriguez said.
Masahiro Tanaka is expected to make a minor league rehab start during the week and will likely then return to the rotation. When he returns, either Domingo German or Jonathan Loaisiga figures to go. Boone was asked what might play into the decision about who will stick around.
“I don’t know if it’s a pitch-off,’’ Boone said. “German has more experience in both roles [starting and relieving]. He’s more built-up.”
Boone noted Loaisiga — slated to start Monday, followed by German on Tuesday — pitched just 32 innings in the minors last season, so his workload will be monitored more closely.
Luis Severino had no trouble picking out the hitter that gives him the most trouble on the Red Sox.
“It’s [ Andrew] Benintendi,’’ said Severino, who will start against Boston on Sunday. “He’s hit me the best.”
In fact, Benintendi has hit Severino better than any player on any team that’s had more than 10 plate appearances.
“Every bad pitch I make, he hits,” Severino said of Benintendi, who is 9-for-19 with five extra-base hits against the Yankees’ ace.
Adam Warren pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings to extend his scoreless streak to 10 2/3 straight shutout frames since returning from the DL. Jonathan Holder had his 10 2/3 scoreless inning streak snapped in the eighth. It was the first earned run Holder has surrendered since returning from SWB, spanning 27 2/3 innings.