MINNEAPOLIS — Aaron Boone’s biggest test is right around the corner.
Sonny Gray, who simply can’t be trusted on the mound in any capacity, Jonathan Loaisiga and Tommy Kahnle made that test more difficult Tuesday night in an embarrassing 10-5 loss to the Twins at Target Field.
Gray surrendered three runs in three innings, while Loaisiga gave up six runs in only 1 ¹/₃ innings as Kahnle came on to serve up a grand slam to Joe Mauer in the fifth.
Sure, Boone’s Yankees have already won 90 games his first year as manager, but without major success in the postseason those wins won’t matter.
With this loss, the rampaging A’s moved two games back in the battle to host the wild-card game.
The last thing Boone and the Yankees want to do is travel to Oakland, Calif., for that game.
No matter the pressure, Boone will continue his “chill’’ style of managing, but he realizes the pressure will mount moving forward.
“Everything is different, it’s kind of all about that day, and now during the season there are a lot of days when you are staying away from relievers, you’re looking at the schedule ahead, ‘He’s pitched two in a row, he’s pitched three out of four,’ all those kind of things,’’ Boone told The Post of the difference between regular season and postseason life.
In October, all the cards are on the table each game, especially the wild-card game.
What is Boone’s playoff personality going to be like in October?
“I would hope it would be very similar,’’ Boone said. “Hopefully as long as I am in this job there is a mental stability with me. It doesn’t mean you don’t react to things, get fired up about things, but I would hope when all my guys when they see me know what they can expect from me emotionally.
“Because even when you get in the postseason, those games, as roller-coaster as they are, you can drive yourself crazy and you have to understand that the next day flips the script in a hurry. We have a good group here that understands that.’’
Boone sent the Yankees to the World Series in 2003 with his ALCS Game 7 home run. He knows October from a player’s perspective, too.
Joe Girardi was super intense during the postseason, but he did bring the Yankees to the seventh game of the ALCS last October.
Boone has his work cut out for him to match Girardi’s success and after this disheartening loss Boone sounded the alarm.
“This is the time where we got to start playing up to our capabilities and putting our best foot forward every single day,’’ Boone said. “We’ve got to start to have that killer [instinct] when we get our opportunities.’’
Getting Aaron Judge back in the lineup is desperately needed. Judge continues to make progress from the chip fracture in his right wrist. Boone is confident Judge will get back in time to be ready for the postseason.
Judge took batting practice again Tuesday and Boone is excited about getting his slugger back, though more will be known this weekend. When I asked how excited, Boone smiled and said, “Very, I talk to him and sometimes at night I write his name in the lineup when I’m screwing around for fun. He’s a great player who is so important on our team.’’
Judge and Boone have clicked in a special way. Here’s what Judge told me about how Boone has the demeanor to manage these Yankees.
“His personality is great. His mannerisms, too, but also he is intense,’’ Judge said. “You can see it in the dugout. He may be walking around and joking with you but when the game starts, he just locks in on the game. Like he is a player again. It’s fun to be around. When you get that from your manager, your leader, you see him locked in every pitch, every out, it fires us up. I know it fires me up.’’
The pressure is on like never before and Boone and the Yankees must rise up.
“We’ve got to dig down and find it,’’ Boone said.
The test is coming.