A day after Boston manager Alex Cora shook up the Red Sox lineup to give his team a boost, Aaron Boone did something similar with the Yankees as they faced elimination in Game 4 of the ALDS in the Bronx.

It didn’t have the same impact in the Yankees’ 4-3 season-ending loss, as their bats stayed mostly silent against Boston pitching.

Miguel Andujar, the AL Rookie of the Year candidate, was benched in favor of Neil Walker. Andujar said he was healthy.

On the surface, the decision wasn’t unusual for Boone or the Yankees, who frequently played Walker at third when Tuesday’s starter, CC Sabathia, was on the mound in the final two months of the regular season.

Concerned about Andujar’s shaky defense — especially with Sabathia’s propensity for giving up grounders to the left side off his cutter and Sabathia’s immobility on the mound — the Yankees often went to Walker’s more dependable glove. The veteran infielder started at third in all four of Sabathia’s final outings of the season, with Andujar serving as the DH or a pinch-hitter.

Walker was given the nod again after appearing in just three innings over three games in the series prior to Game 4. He entered with no hits in his previous 27 postseason at-bats, but delivered the Yankees’ first hit of the night.

With Aaron Hicks back from a hamstring injury, Brett Gardner stayed in the lineup — in left field — instead of Andrew McCutchen.
Gardner hoped it wasn’t his last night with the Yankees. He has a $13 million team option for next season.

“I’m not gonna stand here say and say I’m done,’’ Gardner said. “My body feels great. I’d love to be back. We’ll figure that out at the right time.”

Boone said Gardner’s inclusion in the lineup was days in the making — and not necessarily due to Hicks’ return or McCutchen’s recent funk at the plate.