Yankees players, staff get vaccine before, after loss

After Aaron Boone said he was confident the Yankees would soon get to 85 percent vaccination among their players and staff, which Major League Baseball has incentivized as the mark teams need to reach in order to reduce some COVID restrictions, the team announced players, coaches and staff received vaccinations at the Stadium on Wednesday.

Boone said a number of pitchers who weren’t going to play Wednesday received shots before the game, while others got them after the 4-3, 11-inning loss to Baltimore, with the team taking advantage of Thursday’s off day before their series starts at Tampa Bay on Friday.

“It was an exciting day in that regard,’’ Boone said of the vaccinations.

The Yankees said in a statement that the staff of Montefiore Medical Center in The Bronx were on-site to “administer COVID vaccinations to New York Yankees players, coaches, field staff and support staff.”

Boone was among those within the organization that already had been vaccinated.

Once they get to 85 percent among the traveling party (which includes players, coaches and staff), teams qualify for privileges within MLB’s strict health and safety protocols.

Included in those changes is no longer having to wear masks in the dugouts and bullpens, as well as being permitted to eat indoors at restaurants.

Additionally, vaccinated players no longer need to worry about contact tracing and the subsequent quarantining if someone on the club does get the virus.

Boone said the Yankees have had doctors and others who have received the vaccine — including him — speak to players about getting it.

“We’ve had our doctors and some of us who have gotten the vaccine … talk to the guys and I know it’s been one of the topics of conversation around the club,” Boone said.

The Yankees said the “process has been seamless and efficient, and we are grateful that by receiving the vaccine, we can contribute to stopping the spread of COVID-19.”

➤ Gio Urshela remained on the ground momentarily after being tagged out at the plate trying to score the tying run in the 11th before walking off the field. Boone thought the third baseman was

“all right.”

“He wrenched his neck on the tag, but seemed to be

OK,” the manager said.

➤ Boone was confident he would find plenty of playing time for Brett Gardner despite the glut of outfielders on the roster.

So far, Gardner has made it easy for Boone, adding two more hits in Wednesday’s loss. Gardner started in left field, with Clint Frazier in right, as Aaron Judge sat with a sore left side.

“I feel good about my swing,’’ Gardner said before the game.

He added he hasn’t changed his routine much even though he’s in a new role.

Aaron Hicks was back in the lineup after getting Tuesday off. He entered the game just 1-for-15 with three walks and seven strikeouts to start the season. He remained in the third spot and went 1-for-5 with an RBI single.

➤ After homering in each of his first two games, Gary Sanchez entered Wednesday hitless in eight at-bats with four strikeouts in his previous two, as some of the issues he dealt with fastballs a year ago crept back into the picture. But he had two hits and a walk in the loss.