Garrison makes big-league debut with Yankees

They were the final two outs of a 10-3 New York Yankees win, two innocuous fly balls in a game whose outcome had long been decided, but Steve Garrison won't forget them.

The Hun School graduate worked outs No. 26 and 27 of a win against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium, making his major-league debut less than 90 minutes from where Garrison grew up, in Ewing, N.J.

"It was a great day, a great night," Garrison told the Star-Ledger. "I'm just trying to take it all in right now."

Garrison, 24, was summoned July 20 by the Yankees from the Double-A Trenton Thunder, where he had compiled a 6.26 ERA in 11 appearances, mostly as a starter. He replaced injured reliever Sergio Mitre on the roster, and patiently waited for a chance to pitch.

He had only a few minutes to warm up when the bullpen phone rang, sending his adrenaline into overdrive. After Mike Carp struck out against Boone Logan, Yankees manager Joe Girardi walked to the mound and signaled for Garrison.

Finally.

"It was definitely a good feeling," Garrison told MLB.com. "After that first warm-up pitch, everything went away and it was just, 'Let's get after it.' It's a great feeling to get out there and get the initial one out of the way."

Though a chunk of the 44,365 fans had left the stadium, Garrison raced in for the moment he hoped would arrive. Vastly different than American Legion ball in Ewing, N.J., where he grew up, or Waterfront Park, Garrison tried to calm his nerves.

After his final warm-up pitch, Jeter came to the mound to calm him down.

Garrison retired Justin Smoak on a deep fly to left field, then got Franklin Gutierrez to fly to right. The lefty was given the lineup card for the game.

"When I first got called up, they gave me that one and I saw my name on it," Garrison told MLB.com. "This one, I don't know. I'm going to do something. I'm not going to put it away anywhere."

Garrison was claimed on waivers last September from the Padres, and assigned to Trenton, his biggest professional accomplishment until Tuesday. He impressed Girardi and the Yankees decision makers in Spring Training, nearly made the 25-man roster.

Pitching home games in Trenton was the next best thing.

"I'm lucky to be pitching in front of family and friends [at Waterfront Park]," Garrison said earlier this season. "It's great that they can come and see me. But hopefully, I can get to the next level."

Now, he hopes to stay as long as possible.