Garcia: No problem getting lifted this time

Based on Jaime Garcia’s previous outing, under normal circumstances, the prime storyline surrounding the Yankees lefty Monday night would have involved his exit from the game.

But Garcia’s pitching Monday made what went before a rather moot point.

“The job that Jaime did, just fabulous, just an outstanding start,” Joe Girardi said with justifiable praise. “He had everything. He used his breaking ball very effectively, curveball and slider. He kept them off balance, was able to throw his changeup behind in the count. His fastball had good movement too.”

Oh, Garcia still did not get the victory and technically he again was lifted one out away from a win, but none of that mattered — especially to Garcia.

“We got the win,” Garcia said, emphasizing “we” after the Yankees edged the Twins 2-1 at Yankee Stadium in what very well could prove to be an American League wild-card preview.

Garcia threw 5 2/3 innings and tied his season high in strikeouts with nine — all of them coming among the first 13 batters he faced. He surrendered just four hits and one unearned run.

Of course, many were recalling a miffed Garcia being lifted Wednesday with two outs in the fifth inning, needing one more out to qualify for the win. Garcia was fixated on the present in what could be the big matchup in the near future.

“I was able to keep the ball down for the most part and elevate when I needed to. The biggest thing was being able to control the counts and get ahead,” said Garcia. who still is winless in seven Yankees starts — two loses and five nodecisions. “Was able to make them chase my stuff when I was ahead, and that’s what the goal is to be able to be ahead most of the time.”