Sanchez still can’t buy hit

Gary Sanchez’s hitless streak reached 17 plate appearances Monday night, but the Yankees catcher might have showed signs of breaking out of it.

In an 8-1 win over the Astros in Game 3 of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium, Sanchez went 0-for-4 and was the only Yankee not to reach base. He has not recorded a hit since belting a solo home run in the sixth inning of Game 4 of the ALDS against the Indians.

Two at-bats provided some hope, though. Sanchez rocketed a line drive to center field that George Springer caught in his first at-bat before flying out to the left-field warning track in his final at-bat.

“Definitely felt better tonight,” Sanchez said through an interpreter. “I put the ball in play all four times and I’m seeing the ball better.”

Hitting coach Alan Cockrell said before the game that Sanchez’s swings had been fine and that he could turn things around quickly.

But while the rest of his teammates broke out against Charlie Morton in Game 3, Sanchez stayed silent.

Manager Joe Girardi said before the win that Sanchez’s trou- bles were likely a combination of the way he was being pitched and the young hitter trying to do too much.

“I think they’ve pitched him extremely well, and we have some young players,” Girardi said. “When you look at it, maybe the averages aren’t where we want them, but they’ve had some big hits, home runs, driven in runs. You see mature players go through this. When you face really good pitching, you’re going to see a mature player go 2for-20, a superstar go 2-for-20. That’s just part of being in the playoffs.”

Sanchez is now batting .158 (6for-38) with two home runs and three RBIs in the postseason. He had been joined by Aaron Judge in a playoff slump — the rookie right fielder entered Monday batting .129 (4-for-37) in the postseason before he belted a three-run home run.

Sanchez is hoping he can be next in snapping a skid.

“[Judge] made a really good adjustment tonight and helped us a lot,” Sanchez said. “You go out there and make good contact, that’s what you want. I definitely feel better about that and want to keep improving [Tuesday].”