By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
LOS ANGELES -- As the infielders were completing their final warmups before the bottom of the first inning on Saturday, Alex Rodriguez threw the ball to Brad Halsey, the 23-year-old left-hander making his big league debut.
Halsey, who was about to throw his first pitch in the Majors, came to a sudden realization.

"A-Rod threw me the ball from third base, and I thought, 'A-Rod just threw me that ball,'" Halsey said. "It's very comforting to have those guys out there on the field, because they're such tremendous players."

Halsey did a pretty good job himself, pitching into the sixth inning to earn his first Major League victory, as the Yankees beat the Dodgers, 6-2, at Dodger Stadium.

When he walked into the clubhouse, Halsey knew just three people: Former Triple-A teammates Bubba Crosby and Bret Prinz, as well as Columbus pitching coach Neil Allen. When he saw A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi and the rest of his new teammates, Halsey didn't feel out of place.

"I wouldn't say they were unfamiliar faces, because I see them all the time. They may have been more comforting, because I knew what they can do," he said. "The guys in the clubhouse made me feel real comfortable when I got here. That definitely helped loosen me up."

The day was one filled with firsts for Halsey, who racked up his first win, first strikeout and first hit -- all on his first day as a Yankee.

"I was pretty nervous," he said. "I really can't explain it. I've been dealing with a little nervousness the last few days since I found out I'd get the start. Getting the first out made it a little easier for me."

"I liked the way he handled the early part of the day," said manager Joe Torre. "He was a little nervous warming up, which was understandable, but he threw a lot of strikes."

Unlike Alex Graman, another young lefty who made his debut for the Yankees earlier this season, Halsey held himself together after being staked to a lead. Graman couldn't get out of the third inning after the Yankees gave him leads of 7-0 and 8-1, but Halsey didn't have that problem.

"There was a lot going on inside me," he said. "But letting your emotions get the best of you isn't going to help you perform any better."

After giving a run back in the first, Halsey shut the Dodgers down for the next three innings. Hideo Nomo, who started for L.A., cut the lead to 4-2 with a solo home run, but the southpaw didn't allow much after that, holding the lead until he was pulled with two outs in the sixth.

"There were plenty of pitches that weren't good pitches," said Halsey, sounding more like Kevin Brown than an energetic youngster. "The Dodgers could have easily hit them out of the ballpark like Nomo did. I was a little sloppy and let my nerves get the best of me on some pitches."

Despite showing that he has the stuff to win in the Majors, Halsey said that his most memorable moment came in the top of the second, when he stroked a single to left against Nomo.

"That was the moment that catches my attention," said Halsey, who hadn't had an at-bat since his sophomore year in high school. "I never expected to get a knock."

After the game, Halsey was given the lineup card by Torre, as well as the ball from his hit. To celebrate his win, he planned to go out with his older brother, Marcus, who was on hand to witness his big day while their parents watched from their home in New Braunfels, Texas.

Halsey's next start may wind up being back in Triple-A, but considering the poise he showed on Sunday, this certainly doesn't figure to be his last big league start.

"I'd hate to say it was business as usual, because I'm not usually pitching in Dodger Stadium," Halsey said. "I tried to take that approach, focus on the things that I do well and pitch my game."

Mission accomplished.

Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.