Aaron Boone played it straight by starting his ace in the opener. It was Cam Schlittler who threw a curve.

Boone had multiple ways to handle Tuesday night’s wild-card series opener. He decided not to get too strategic, too cute. The Yankees manager handed the ball to the best pitcher in the American League.

It was what Schlittler did with the ball that added to his burgeoning legend.

The pitcher who keeps reinventing himself on the fly threw more curveballs than he ever had in a game. He expended more pitches than he ever had in a game. And it all led to the familiar: genius.