Live blogging Joba's starting debut

As I stated in today's first post, this is an important night in the Bronx. With Joba Chamberlain making his debut in the Yankees' starting rotation, it seems like as good a time as any to bust out the first running journal of the right-hander's start.

6:45 p.m. ET - I'm sitting in my house 3,000 miles away from Yankee Stadium and the YES Network is in full Joba Overload. The always frisky Kim Jones has a twinkle in her eye, Al Leiter doesn't look quite as confused as usual and Michael Kay's head is big as ever. Judging by the coverage, this is the biggest and most important start EVER.

6:50 - Something I meant to mention in my first story today. Joe Girardi said Joba is limited to 65-70 pitches today, which will get him through five innings tops. That means 12-15 outs from the stellar Yankees bullpen. With Halladay on the mound, this will be a difficult game to win.

7:13 - And Joba's first showdown as a starter ends ... with a walk. Eight pitches to the leadoff man; he won't get out of the third inning at that pace.

7:15 - Michael Kay keeps on saying Joba is really "geeked." I have no idea what this means.

7:16 - Joba fans Scutaro with a hanging breaking ball. I'll take it. Hopefully this settles him.

7:17 - Second-base umpire Joe West calls a balk on Joba. The big right-hander is definitely nervous right now.

7:18 - Alex Rios is killing my fantasy team this season. He's supposed to be a five-tool stud. It seems like the only time he's done well this year is against the Yankees. This is awesome, obviously.

7:20 - Following a passed ball (thanks for the help Jose!), Alex Rios hits and RBI groundout to second. 1-0, Jays. The Yankee Stadium gun said that Joba just hit 101 mph. This is not true.

7:24 - This is not going to plan. Joba falls behind Stairs and walks him on a 3-2 pitch. That's 27 pitches. He won't see the fourth inning at this pace.

7:27 - Just walked Overbay on another 3-2 pitch. He may not see the second inning.

7:28 - Joba strikes out Barajas on a 97-mph fastball. Three walks in the inning (already a career high), two hits, but just one run allowed. Unfortunately, he needed 37 pitches to get through the inning. It will be interesting to see how Girardi plays this.

7:39 - Just when you think the Yankees are going to squander Damon's leadoff triple, Matsui comes through with a two-out RBI single to left. Matsui has been outstanding this season.

7:40 - Holy shit. Jason Giambi just slapped a slider away from the shift, picking up an RBI single with a roller through the vacated left side of the infield. I cannot believe my eyes right now. Joba is now working with a lead. I look for him to settle in the second.

7:44 - Michael Kay just said "geeked" again. Stop it.

7:48 - That's more like it. A 1-2-3 second inning for Joba. That's 54 pitches over two innings, 34 for strikes. This is the most pitches Chamberlain has ever thrown in a big league game. He has a chance to make it through four innings now.

7:58 - Damon continues his great night with a ground-rule double. Jeter strands him at second. Jeter needs to start playing like Jeter.

8:01 - Who said Abreu is afraid of the wall? Great catch. The ball is really carrying tonight in the Bronx.

8:07 - Four-pitch walk to Rios and Joba's first Major League start comes to an end. Final line: 2.1 innings, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 K's, 4 BB, 62 pitches, 32 for strikes. Not exactly what you were hoping for, but it's good that Joba has this out of the way and can prepare for his next start without the great unknown hanging over him.

Now the Yankees will have to figure out how the hell to win this game with Dan -- not Don -- Giese and company hard at work. I'll finish my thoughts on Joba and this game tomorrow. Go Yanks.