NEW YORK — The Red Sox had the bases loaded with one out in the first inning Thursday night, a perfect opportunity to break the game open against Yankees starter CC Sabathia.

Xander Bogaerts almost always has the same approach in such situations, get a pitch on the outer half of the plate and slap it the other way to right field.

But the bat never left his shoulder as Bogaerts watched five pitches and struck out. Sabathia’s fourth and fifth pitches were strikes on the outside corner that Bogaerts just watched.

When the Red Sox loaded the bases in the ninth inning, Mitch Moreland hit for Bogaerts. That was once unthinkable for a player considered one of the game’s rising stars.

But Bogaerts has hit .228 with a .649 OPS since June 1 and did not start in the Red Sox’ 4-1 victory Friday night. That will likely be the case Saturday, too. Bogaerts was a defensive replacement in the eighth inning Friday.

“Trying to regroup here a little bit, get some additional work done,’’ Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

Bogaerts hit .337 with an .864 OPS over the first half of the season. His skid started in June and worsened in July after he was hit in the right hand by a pitch.

X-rays were negative and Bogaerts continued to play after an MRI was taken two weeks later. But he has not been the same player who hit .307 with a .789 OPS from 2015-16.

Bogaerts also has dealt with a groin strain and a jammed left thumb.

“We know he’s been banged up a little bit, nicked up with some things physically,’’ Farrell said. “I think the combination of all those has come to a head here a little bit.’’

For Farrell, that first-inning strikeout Thursday was telling.

“Those are indicators you look at, you take note of. Is it affecting him that much?’’ the manager said.

Bogaerts did not make himself available to reporters before Friday’s game. But earlier this week, he discussed what he described as a “frustrating season’’ both at the plate and defensively.

“I’m a better player than I’ve shown,’’ Bogaerts said. “I’ll have a good day and I think, ‘I’ll go from here’ and it doesn’t happen. I’m trying everything I can.’’

It’s the first career crisis for Bogaerts since 2014 when the Red Sox shifted him off shortstop in June to accommodate the return of shortstop Stephen Drew. He fell into a slump that lasted two months.

This time, Bogaerts has competition from Eduardo Nunez. With Dustin Pedroia coming off the disabled list Friday, the Sox will need a spot for Nunez and shortstop is one of the positions he plays.

Nunez replaced Bogaerts at shortstop Friday.

The Red Sox are not going to give up on one of their best players. But with the team in a pennant race, Bogaerts has to earn his playing time. The coaches want to see a better approach at the plate.

“You look at the body of work. You look at the way he’s approaching certain pitches. You look at the aggressiveness. Is the aggressiveness early in counts a reflection of the confidence?’’ Farrell said. “These last 30 days, it’s important for him, for all of us, to continue to find ways to build momentum as we get further into this month of September and hopefully beyond.’’

Price encouraged

David Price threw 29 pitches in the bullpen before the game, all fastballs or changeups.

“I’ll be honest with you, it was impressive. It was powerful,’’ Farrell said. “He came out of it feeling really good, really encouraged by it.’’

Price has been on the disabled list since July 25 with a triceps strain. The lefthander is scheduled to throw in the bullpen again Sunday or Monday and breaking pitches could be incorporated.

At the pace he is now on, Price could face hitters late next week. But there is no projection as to when he might return.

Roster reloaded

The Red Sox recalled lefthander Roenis Elias, righthander Austin Maddox, catcher Blake Swihart, and first baseman Sam Travis from Triple A Pawtucket.

Righthanded reliever Matt Barnes was activated off the disabled list. Center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. will be activated Saturday and infielder Tzu-Wei Lin will be added on Saturday.

Elias is 1-6 with a 6.96 ERA in 10 starts this season. But by calling him, the Red Sox will retain an option on him for 2018 they would not have otherwise.

Elias has appeared in only three games for the Red Sox since being obtained from Seattle before the 2016 season.

The Sox expect to add three or four minor leaguers in the coming days.

No room for Brentz?

The Red Sox did not recall outfielder Bryce Brentz, who has hit .273 with 30 home runs and 84 RBIs in 116 games for Pawtucket.

Brentz has a .982 OPS in 117 plate appearances against lefthanded pitchers, a skill that the Red Sox would presumably find useful. Lefthanded starters have held the Sox to three or fewer runs in 11 consecutive games.

The Red Sox have used Chris Young as their DH against lefthanders in recent weeks and received little production.

Young has hit .184 with a .561 OPS against lefties this season with only four RBIs. He is 3 of 34 (.088) against lefties since the All-Star break.

Brentz is not on the 40-man roster, but that could be easily remedied.

“That’s part of the conversation. There’s roster consequences to that, or adjustments needed,’’ Farrell said. “The door’s not closed on any situation.’’

Farrell was asked whether there was any downside to promoting Brentz beyond making a roster move.

“At this point, no,’’ he said. “But I can’t give you a definitive answer if he’s going to come here or not.’’

Yankees add five

The Yankees made a series of moves, including activating designated hitter Matt Holliday off the disabled list. Righthanders Ben Heller and Bryan Mitchell were recalled from Triple A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, as was lefthander Jordan Montgomery.

Catcher Erik Kratz was added to the active roster after being purchased from Cleveland.

The Yankees expect to have catchers Austin Romine and Gary Sanchez for the remainder of the series. They remain in the appeal process of their suspensions and a decision is not expected until next week.

Major League Baseball suspended Sanchez for four games and Romine for two for their involvement in a brawl with the Detroit Tigers on Aug. 24.

Bern it up

Former Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams, an accomplished jazz guitarist, performed the national anthem . . . In case you were wondering, the Sox wore their alternate blue jerseys Thursday at the request of starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez. They had them on again Friday, which is usually the case . . . Craig Kimbrel was the team’s “culture hero’’ for August and received the coveted red T-shirt. The coaching staff selects the winner . . . David Rutherford, a motivational speaker and former Navy Seal, had a uniform on during batting practice. He has addressed the Sox during spring training the last two years.

Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @peteabe.