#Gary Sanchez’s return to Yankees lineup was a dud

Aaron Boone and his coaching staff decided late Monday night that two days of Gary Sanchez working with hitting coach Marcus Thames was enough to end the two-game benching for the ice-cold catcher.

“Just feel like having a couple of days off now I was considering this before [Monday night’s] game and decided, ‘Let’s get him back in there,’ ” Boone said before a 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays at Sahlen Field in Buffalo.

Sanchez went 0-for-4 and is hitting .125. He also dropped a pop-up.

“I thought he had good at-bats. He hit the ball hard to third his last time up and smoked a ball to left. I thought he did a better job laying off some secondary stuff. I thought he got off some good swings but didn’t get results,’’ Boone said.

Sanchez landed on the bench due to a .130 batting average that included 48 strikeouts compared to 13 hits in 100 at-bats. Even before he was removed from the lineup Sanchez showed Boone no signs of slacking off during workouts.

“The work has been good. The next step is translating it to where we start see some results in the game results in the game,’’ Boone said. “We know he is capable of going on a good run. The biggest thing for him is to be in position to dominate the fastball and you are getting your best swing off against a good fastball.’’

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Boone said Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton had “a few good days here’’ but didn’t offer a timetable for either’s return from the injured list. Boone also said pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga will go for tests on Wednesday. He is on the IL with an undisclosed medical condition that is not COVID-related. Boone said Loaisiga has been throwing the last couple of days and is doing better.

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The Yankees haven’t received word when Aroldis Chapman’s appeal of his three-game suspension stemming from a Sept. 1 incident against the Rays will be heard. The Yankees’ closer buzzed Mike Brosseau’s head with a 101 mph fastball that resulted in the dugouts clearing which is against COVID-19 protocols.

GM Brian Cashman said the issue is between MLB and the players association.

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With Brennan Miller behind the plate on Tuesday night, Boone said he didn’t feel a need to talk to the umpire. Last season Boone yelled at the then rookie umpire that his team was “Savages in the box’’ after being unhappy with Miller’s strike zone.

Boone said he called Miller after the incident and offered an apology and said, “We had a good conversation.’’

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The Yankees released a statement regarding former AL president Dr. Gene Budig, who died Tuesday at age 81. No cause was givein.

“Dr. Budig was a cherished friend of our family and someone my father respected immensely for his character, intellect and profound career accomplishments in higher education,” said Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. “Over the last decade, I had the opportunity to work with him in establishing and growing the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, and quickly discovered why my father held him in such high regard. We personally share deeply in his loss and will always be grateful for his efforts in creating a permanent landmark for the Yankees, New York City and student-athletes from around the country.”

“Dr. Budig was a cherished friend of our family and someone my father respected immensely for his character, intellect and profound career accomplishments in higher education,” said Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. “Over the last decade, I had the opportunity to work with him in establishing and growing the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, and quickly discovered why my father held him in such high regard. We personally share deeply in his loss and will always be grateful for his efforts in creating a permanent landmark for the Yankees, New York City and student-athletes from around the country.”