Drury demotion another difficult decision

BALTIMORE — The first time Brandon Drury landed in the minor leagues this year was because of migraine headaches and blurry vision after being the Yankees’ Opening Day third baseman.

Then after a rehab stint, Drury was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/WilkesBarre because Miguel Andujar took possession of the third base job with a live bat and improved defense.

Monday, Drury headed to SWB for a second time when he was optioned between games of a doubleheader against the Orioles at Camden Yards after go- ing hitless in four at-bats of a 5-4 loss.

The move was made to get Luis Cessa, the second game starter, on the roster. After the 10-2 win in which Cessa contributed six shutout innings, he, too, was optioned to SWB.

“Another one of those awful decisions. We just feel like [Aaron Hicks] is good and [Clint Frazier] covers us in the outfield and [Tyler] Wade gives us flexibility,’’ Boone said.

Hicks was removed from Saturday’s game with left leg cramps and didn’t play Sunday. He started in center field in the first game Monday.

Brought back to the big leagues on June 29, Drury went 3-for-22 (.136).

“He is a big leaguer and doesn’t belong [in Triple-A], but unfortunately that is the situation right now,’’ Boone said.

Until Frazier doubled high off the right-field wall in the second game, he was having a miserable night. He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the first game, during which he snapped a bat over his right thigh after striking out in the eighth. He struck out in his first two at-bats in the second game and hit into an inning-ending double play in the fifth.

Gleyber Torres won’t play in the All-Star Game next week in Washington, but will attend. He will continue to receive treatment for a strained right hip that has had him on the DL since July 5 as Yankees trainer Steve Donohue will be with him.

It is possible Torres could play in a minor league rehab game next Wednesday and rejoin the Yankees when they host the Mets on July 20 in a Subway Series game.

“Depending on how this week unfolds, we will see where we are at. Maybe it’s Wednesday,’’ Boone said.

Seventeen Yankee hits in the second game were a season high.

Gary Sanchez put a full day of work in the cage on Monday and will take batting practice on the field Tuesday. Sanchez caught Masahiro Tanaka’s bullpen in Toronto on Sunday and, according to Boone, continues to make progress toward coming off the DL.

“He is looking very much on track,’’ Boone said of Sanchez, who has been on the DL since June 25 with a strained right groin.

If everything continues to go well, it is possible Sanchez could rejoin the Yankees for the Mets series that begins July 20 at Yankee Stadium.