‘Bulldog’ Yankees reliever dazzles as he finally gets chance

HOUSTON — Following Tuesday night’s loss, the Yankees optioned right-handed starter Jonathan Loaisiga to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and replaced him Wednesday with right-handed reliever Joe Harvey.

With his parents watching from the seats, Harvey threw two scoreless innings and struck out three in his major league debut.

“I was trying to prepare in my head [what it was going to be like] and then [bullpen coach Mike] Harkey said to get ready and this got real,’’ Harvey said after the Yankees’ 8-6 loss to the Astros. “It was the most fun I ever had.’’

Manager Aaron Boone’s reports were encouraging, and the Yankees feel Harvey can help in the future.

“Really good fastball, power arm. The fastball plays, he pitches up in the zone and he is a bulldog,’’ Boone said of the 27-year-old Harvey who was 3-2 with a 1.66 ERA and eight saves in 38 games at Triple-A last year when he struck out 61 in 54 ¹/₃ innings. He worked 2 ¹/₃ innings for SWB this year in two games and didn’t give up a run. “A guy we put on the [40-man] roster over the winter and feel like he is a guy who can come up here and help us.’’

Harvey likely will be returned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for CC Sabathia coming off the IL and starting Saturday against the White Sox at Yankee Stadium.

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