MLB

CHAMBERLAIN NEVER COMFORTABLE

The hype, the build-up, the expectations were pure New York. Unless you’ve been living in the trunk of a ’56 Buick, you knew Joba Chamberlain was making his first major league start for the Yankees. The Stadium was in a frenzy.

“I thought Ruth had come back,” said Blue Jays leadoff man Shannon Stewart.

Stewart, who fought off a 1-2 fastball that arrived at 98 mph, “set the tone” for Toronto, according to teammate David Eckstein. The plan against the Yanks’ cult status righty was make him work. Stewart worked Chamberlain for an eight-pitch walk to start a 38-pitch first inning.

“The longer the at-bat went, I was able to settle down, because the first couple pitches I felt like it was a playoff game. Those people were screaming. It was electric,” Stewart said. “I thought he was going to throw the first couple pitches 100, 200 miles an hour. I thought, ‘This is no ordinary start.’ ”

Yet it became ordinary as Chamberlain, on a 70-pitch leash, lasted 12 batters, 21/3 innings and 62 pitches in the Yanks’ 9-3 loss. Toronto wanted to get into the Yanks bullpen early. Soon, there was a parade populated by Dan Giese (the loser but he probably pitched the best), Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez, LaTroy Hawkins and Chris Britton as the Yanks began Chamberlain’s official transformation to starter.

“To make to the transition at this level is certainly tough,” Jays starter and winner Roy Halladay said. “But it’s just a matter of getting comfortable.”

Chamberlain never got to that comfort level.

“We worked him good, we really did,” said manager John Gibbons. “He’s going to be good once he builds up some stamina. He’s got overpowering stuff.”

Chamberlain seemed as emotional as ever. Which the Jays expected.

“That’s him, especially in the late innings. He’s high energy,” Eckstein said. “That’s his game and we did a good job of taking that away from him. But it’s tough going out there on a pitch count when the other team knows about it.”

It’s also tough when you have to pace yourself. Chamberlain started in the minors but has been strictly a bullpen resident with the Yanks. Whole different mindset. And the Blue Jays saw that early and managed for the most part to lay off the slider that has been such an effective out pitch for Chamberlain in relief but became an instrument of his four walks in his first start.

“I don’t know if he was pitching away from contact or didn’t have confidence in the fastball. Only he knows,” said Lyle Overbay. “But early in the game, you’ve got to pound the strike zone.”

fred.kerber@nypost.com