NEW YORK – It was some four hours before the scheduled first pitch of Thursday’s game, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone was already dressed in his full pinstriped uniform, making the long walk to Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park.

Flanked by pitchers Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón, the three men placed a ceremonial wreath at the base of the Sept. 11, 2001 monument, which honors the innocent victims and selfless courage of that terrible day.

“That was really meaningful,” Boone said. “I’ve gotten to do that now a few times when we’ve been here, so to get to walk out there with Gerrit and Carlos to take in an amazing monument – you see the Pentagon, the Twin Towers, the police dogs and the firemen all honored on there. It hits home.”

In a statement, the Yankees said they “remember those we lost,

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