NEW YORK -- Gary Sánchez had one of his best at-bats of the season during the Yankees' most recent road trip, according to manager Aaron Boone, who pointed to the catcher’s towering home run off the Angels’ Jaime Barria in Tuesday’s 6-4 loss at Angel Stadium.

That sequence, which ended with Sánchez unloading on a high two-seam fastball for his 18th homer of the season, was a perfect example of the impact that Boone believes Sánchez can have down the stretch as the Bombers chase a postseason spot.

“I look at it as, we’ve got a potential wrecking machine in the No. 9 hole tonight,” Boone said before Friday’s series opener against the Orioles.

It has been an up-and-down season for Sánchez, who entered Friday batting .213/.320/.433 with 13 doubles and 43 RBIs in 94 games (107 OPS+) and was slotted to bat ninth for the first time in his Major League career.

Sánchez’s homer in Anaheim snapped a career-long 20-game streak without a long ball.

“Since coming back from COVID, I think he’s been finding his way a little bit offensively, finding his strength a little bit,” Boone said. “He’s been hitting eighth, he’s been hitting seventh. We have a great lineup. Somebody’s got to hit everywhere, and I’m trying to create a little bit of space.”

Squid up

With Gleyber Torres returning from the injured list on Friday, Andrew Velazquez could continue to figure into the Yankees’ plans in a variety of roles. Boone sees the 27-year-old picking up spot starts “here and there” as the team navigates through September.

“He, like Tyler [Wade], has the ability to play a lot of different positions,” Boone said. “He can go to the outfield. He brings speed to the table. There’s situations you can get him in late into ballgames. He’ll be playing an important role for us off the bench and hopefully continuing to impact us.”

Storm field

Work is continuing to prepare TD Bank Ballpark, the home of the Double-A Somerset Patriots, for more baseball this season. The facility in Bridgewater, N.J., was flooded by the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Wednesday.

The Patriots, who were playing on the road, will return to ruined vehicles and personal belongings. Outfielder Isiah Gilliam said in a tweet that the team “lost everything.”

• After Ida, Somerset out to save homestand

“The Somerset Patriots organization, and the Kalafer family, have been truly touched by the outpouring of support and concern following Tropical Storm Ida’s unprecedented impact on our region,” co-chairmen Jonathan and Josh Kalafer said in a statement. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation this storm has caused for so many.

“We count our blessings that our families, and those of our team, are all safe. The flood waters have receded and work is already underway getting our field ready to ‘play ball’ and finish the season.”

Bombers bits

The Yankees are considering inserting a sixth starter for their Sept. 6-9 series against the Blue Jays, and that could be right-hander Luis Gil. The Yanks’ No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Gil has pitched 15 2/3 scoreless innings to begin his Major League career.

This date in Yankees history

Sept. 3, 1995: Tony Fernandez became the 10th Yankee to hit for the cycle in a 10-9, 10-inning loss to the Athletics. Fernandez completed the cycle with a leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth and would eventually score the tying run.