MLB

JOBA IS STOPPED FOR JAY-WALKING

It wasn’t very pretty for Joba Chamberlain. It was simply disappointing.

With back-page hype and a sellout Bronx crowd on hand, Chamberlain’s starting debut was far from a huge success last night. Instead, in his first major-league start, Chamberlain delivered an erratic and deflating outing.

“It didn’t go very good,” he said. “I’ve got to be better, that’s for sure.”

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Pulled after 62 pitches – his limit was around 65 – Chamberlain lasted 21/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) as the Yankees were pounded 9-3 by Toronto. Chamberlain allowed one hit, fanned three and reached 100-mph five times. But he lacked control, issuing four walks and suffering through a 38-pitch first inning.

Chamberlain – a dynamic set-up man – exceeded his longest career relief outing by one-third of an inning. Unlike past relief outings, he won’t be able to immediately atone for it; the next start of the Joba Age isn’t till Sunday versus Kansas City.

Hank Steinbrenner didn’t return calls from The Post yesterday, but he downplayed Chamberlain’s struggle to the AP. Said the Baby Boss, “It was the first step, that’s all.”

Steinbrenner also called the debut “a creation of the media. If this had been a first start for any other pitcher on any other team, it wouldn’t have been such a big deal.”

That’s true, because Chamberlain’s role ranks as maybe the most critical and controversial decision of the Yankees’ present and future. Last night was his first pro start since last July 25 against Triple-A Louisville, and before the game manager Joe Girardi said, “I think Joba was drafted as a starter. I think Joba projects very well as a starter, a top-notch starter. And I think it’s the right move.”

Besides Chamberlain’s shaky outing, Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez were shelled, allowing six runs in one-third of an inning. The Yanks have lost three straight and are in the AL East basement.

Girardi had said with 65 pitches for Chamberlain, the gas-throwing righty could go four or five innings. Instead, he faced 12 hitters and saw five of them reach.

“Just tried to get too fine, I think,” Chamberlain said.

Amped up with excitement, the Bronx fans were roaring before the night’s first pitch, and at 7:09 p.m., Chamberlain zipped a 96-mph fastball to Shannon Stewart for ball one. Stewart walked, and after Chamberlain struck out Marco Scutaro, he balked Stewart to second. A passed ball and an RBI groundout made it 1-0.

The groundout came on a 100-mph pitch. Chamberlain unleashed three straight 100 mph-plus heaters, the last at 101. Chamberlain reached 100 mph on pitch 59, a promising sign.

In the rest of the first inning, Chamberlain loaded the bases on a single and consecutive walks before blowing away Rod Barajas on a 99-mph fastball. Girardi said Chamberlain wouldn’t have exceeded 40 pitches in the inning, so his night nearly became a less-than-one-frame affair.

Chamberlain was better in the second, tossing a 1-2-3 frame, but with 54 pitches through two, he could last only two batters in the third. “I was mad at myself,” Chamberlain admitted.

While Chamberlain has a four-pitch arsenal, he barely showcased three last night, throwing no changeups and two curves. Instead, he fired nearly all fastballs (45) and sliders (15), abandoning the slider midway through – 21 of his final 25 pitches were fastballs.

mark.hale@nypost.com