BOSTON -- A self-described "huge Yankees and Jets fan," Sal Romano was born in Syosset, N.Y., and spent the first 10 years of his life on Long Island, where he dreamed about joining Derek Jeter and the rest of the dynasty-era Bombers on the diamond.

The 27-year-old Romano got a taste of that fantasy when he jogged out of the Fenway Park bullpen on Thursday evening, wearing a road gray uniform with New York across the chest and assigned to extinguish a budding Red Sox rally.

"I took a couple of seconds when I got out there just to take it all in at first, but I knew there was a job to be done," Romano said on Sunday. "It was just a dream come true. Knowing how big the rivalry is, going in there and trying to get some big outs during the game, it was a really cool experience."

Pitching in relief of Jordan Montgomery, Romano permitted a single to J.D. Martinez, then retired Hunter Renfroe to end the sixth inning. Romano then opened the seventh by inducing Christian Vázquez to ground out softly to the mound.

It was a memorable performance in front of Romano's parents, sister and her boyfriend, all of whom were on hand at Fenway.

"I've always been a person that, no matter what the situation is, I always want the ball," said Romano, who pitched his high school ball in Southington, Conn. "To be in a situation like that, in Fenway Park and in the Yankees-Red Sox game, it was definitely a good confidence booster for me."

Romano logged 83 appearances over the 2017-21 seasons with the Reds, pitching to a 5.15 ERA. He was released by Cincinnati in May and signed a Minor League deal with the Yankees, who expressed belief that his performance could improve with a new pitch.

"One of the first things they said was that they had a slider they wanted to teach me," Romano said. "As soon as I got to Scranton, [Pa.], I worked on it for a month straight every day. The grip is a little bit tough, so I was just trying to keep throwing and throwing until I finally got it."

Romano credits Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitching coach Dustin Glant, organizational pitching coordinator Sam Briend and Triple-A right-hander Braden Bristo for helping him tinker with the slider.

"The last year or two, I've been missing that swing-and-miss pitch," Romano said. "This was definitely something that helped me in Triple-A, instead of just having my two-seam. The biggest thing was that I was going to get an opportunity here and we'll see what happens."

Welcome back
Gio Urshela returned to the Yankees' lineup on Sunday after missing eight games on the COVID-19 injured list.

"He's obviously a great two-way player for us," manager Aaron Boone said. "It's been nice to see him again these last couple of days, just the joy Gio brings to the table day in and day out. It's good to see him and have him around, and now even better to get back in the lineup."

In a corresponding move, the Yankees placed first baseman Chris Gittens on the 10-day injured list with a right ankle sprain. Gittens sustained the injury stepping on his bat as he ran to first base in the eighth inning on Saturday.

Boone said that Gittens had been expected to serve as the designated hitter on Sunday against left-hander Martín Pérez, which affected their plan to have Giancarlo Stanton play the outfield in Boston. The target is now to have Stanton in the outfield next weekend against the Marlins in Miami.

"I think he's prepared to do it and has been preparing himself for it, so I expect it to happen," Boone said.

He said it
"G is as unique as they come. He doesn't make the most conventional outs in the world. He hits the ball like no one else in the world when he hits it hard. It's just not conventional, but it's really productive." -- Boone, on Stanton's swing

Bombers bits
Montgomery, Nestor Cortes Jr. and Gerrit Cole are in line to start the three games against the Rays at Tropicana Field, though Boone said there is some wiggle room in having Cortes start on Wednesday. Jameson Taillon is set to pitch on Friday in Miami.

This date in Yankees history
July 25, 2015: Alex Rodriguez became the oldest player in Yankees history (and second oldest in baseball history) to hit three homers in a game, capping the feat with a game-tying solo homer in an 8-5 victory at Minnesota.