Sanchez back in lineup as Cashman offers pep talk

Slumping catcher Gary Sánchez returned to the Yankees’ lineup Tuesday night, hours after general manager Brian Cashman spoke to the struggling team in Buffalo, New York.

Cashman tried to reinvigorate a roster that has lost four straight games and 14 of 19, a slump that has dropped New York back in the playoff race.

Manager Aaron Boone said Cashman delivered a positive message, one the GM said was meant to remind players “where they’ve got to get back to and who they are” in the final weeks of this abbreviated season.

Regarded as heavy favorites to win the East when the pandemicshortened season began, the injury-plagued Yankees began the day 21-20, tied with Houston for the last two AL playoff spots.

Cashman made a rare trip on the road with the Yankees, seeing them play Toronto at the Blue Jays’ temporary home in Buffalo. The Blue Jays beat New York 12-7 on Monday night.

“I’ve taken the opportunity to do that from time to time,” Cashman said of speaking to the players. “See if it helps. Bottom line is, we’re on our own. There’s no help coming from anywhere.

The challenge is to find a way to get through this storm, batten down the hatches and come out on the other end with clear skies and sunny days ahead.”

“Obviously the work has got to be done now while the storm is upon us and clearly, we all know the storm is upon us. We haven’t played well now for quite some time. We all know we’re capable of more, significantly more, both individually and collectively,” he said.