NEW YORK -- With Gary Sanchez moving closer to rejoining the active roster, the Yankees are hopeful that Austin Romine was just fighting dehydration when he had to be removed from the team's 11-5 win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday with what the team described as cramping in the right groin.
Romine appeared to grimace while advancing to third base on Chase Headley's run-scoring single, which increased New York's lead to 8-2 in the sixth inning. Manager Joe Girardi and assistant athletic trainer Michael Schuk attended to Romine, who stayed in the game until the end of the inning.
"He was tested after the game; the strength was there," Girardi said. "He could stretch fine. We think it was more of a cramp than anything. Obviously we'll know more [Wednesday]."
Kyle Higashioka replaced Romine behind the plate. Romine has filled in nicely while Sanchez has been on the disabled list with a right biceps strain, batting .316/.349/.456 (18-for-57) with two homers and 10 RBIs in 19 games.

Sanchez played his first Minor League rehabilitation game on Tuesday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Lehigh Valley, homering in his first at-bat before catching seven innings and finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Girardi said that he does not believe Romine's injury will alter Sanchez's timetable. Sanchez is scheduled to catch again at Triple-A on Wednesday, then serve as the RailRiders' designated hitter on Thursday before potentially rejoining the Yankees on Friday against the Cubs.
"I don't think it will change what we're doing right now," Girardi said.