Balky back forces Sanchez out early
The Yankees’ shorthanded lineup took another hit Friday night.
Gary Sanchez caught the first five innings of their 6-2 loss to the Red Sox before leaving the game with what the Yankees said were midback spasms. He was pinchhit for by backup Rob Brantly to begin the top of the sixth.
“We’ll just see how he responds overnight,” manager Aaron Boone said when asked about Sanchez’s availability for Saturday. “His back started locking up. Felt like it was cramping on him in the early innings. Then by the fifth when he came out, it just really kind of locked up on him.”
Sanchez did not show any outward signs of the back affecting him during the game. The catcher had sat out Thursday’s series opener after getting “dinged” by a few foul tips in Wednesday’s win over the Phillies, Boone said.
Before exiting Friday, Sanchez was 0-for-1 with a strikeout, a walk and a run scored. He was catching Gerrit Cole for a second straight start with Kyle Higashioka still on the COVID-19 injured list.
“He’s in there still getting treatment now and I know he’s had some improvement, but we’ll just see where we’re at overnight and tomorrow,” Boone said.
“Hopefully he’s back in there and it’s just something that kind of locked up on him, hopefully a shortterm thing.”
Higashioka is scheduled to meet the team in Boston on Sunday to fly to Tampa for a Monday workout, where his status will be reevaluated for the series against the Rays, which begins Tuesday.
Brantly, meanwhile, was tasked with catching the rest of Friday’s game and went 0-for-3 at the plate.
If Sanchez were to require a stint on the injured list, the Yankees would have to add a catcher to the 40man roster until Higashioka returns. Max McDowell, Kellin Deglan and Donny Sands are the catchers on Triple-A Scranton/WilkesBarre’s roster.
Sanchez’s departure Friday weakened a lineup that has already been hurting for a week. Since the All-Star break, the Yankees have been playing without starters Aaron Judge and Gio Urshela (COVID-19) and Luke Voit (knee).