The Yankees are planning on using Russell Martin as much as possible in these playoffs. But with the catcher reaching up to grab Derek Jeter’s relay throw from Curtis Granderson in the fifth inning, it looked like Alex Avila had a chance to change those plans.
“It could have been ugly,” Martin said of the play that kept the score tied in the Yankees’ 9-3 win in Game 1 of the ALDS last night at the Stadium. “I just held onto it long enough. If he hit me harder, he could have knocked it out.”
Instead, Martin held on, made the tag and the Yankees responded by erupting for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away.
PHOTOS: ALDS GAME 1: YANKEES 9, TIGERS 3
Martin had plenty to do with last night’s success, including getting Ivan Nova through six shutout innings before the right-hander faltered in the ninth.
“He didn’t need much help,” said Martin, who had thought Nova might have some jitters in his first postseason appearance. “I was wrong. He wasn’t nervous at all.”
Part of that was no doubt because of Martin’s presence.
“It’s obvious how much confidence our pitchers have with Russell behind the plate,” Nick Swisher said.
With only Jorge Posada and Jesus Montero, both challenged defensively, backing him up at catcher for this series, Martin’s health is extremely important.
That’s especially true to the team’s altered rotation, because CC Sabathia only may pitch one more time in the series and Martin could have to coax good starts out of Freddy Garcia and, possibly, A.J. Burnett.
“I’ve got experience with all these guys,” said Martin, who added a double in the bottom of the fifth, but grounded out with two on in the sixth. He has hits in seven of 10 career games in league championship series. “It’s not like I’m not comfortable with any of the pitchers on this staff.”
That includes Burnett, who manager Joe Girardi and pitching coach Larry Rothschild had shoved into the bullpen after they opted to have Garcia in the rotation.
The Yankees could have had an issue with Avila bearing down on him, but Martin wasn’t concerned as the play developed.
“It was just a bang-bang play,” he said. “It’s the playoffs. I’m ready for anything. The only way I’m dropping that ball is if I get knocked out. Even then, maybe I hold onto it. I’m ready for it.”
“I’ve seen guys do this so many times, it’s almost routine,” Swisher said.
“You wonder if [Avila] slides, if he’s safe,” Girardi said.
Avila took care of that by not really sliding or barreling into Martin.
The former Dodger has played in the postseason three times before, so he has experience in such short October series, and he’s not worried about the changes to the rotation.
“It’s never going to be easy, so this is just another obstacle,” Martin said. “But it’s not something we can’t overcome.”
Whether they are able to handle the alterations will depend at least somewhat on how Martin does with the staff.
“We’re confident in all these guys,” Martin said. “This game showed why.”
dan.martin@nypost.com