Kansas City, Mo. ? Joba Chamberlain came trotting out of the bullpen to start the seventh inning, and tears came streaming down Harlan Chamberlain’s weather-beaten face.

When his son’s first pitch registered 99 mph on the radar gun, the older man whooped with glee and pointed toward the scoreboard yelling, “Ninety-nine! Ninety-nine!”

Joba did not disappoint his disabled father, who was seeing him pitch in the major leagues for the first time.

On an emotional moment Friday night that seemed to resonate through the entire New York Yankees team, Joba worked two scoreless innings to preserve a one-run lead in a 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

“I imagined it. But to see it come to reality and fruition is totally amazing,” Harlan said as he watched his son give up two hits and run his scoreless streak since he joined the Yankees to 141â3 innings over 11 games since making his debut Aug. 7.

Disabled by polio when he was just 9 months old, the elder Chamberlain made the three-hour drive from his home in Lincoln, Neb., on Friday, along with many other family members.

“To work as hard as he has and to be on this stage, it’s such a blessing,” he said.

The 54-year-old Chamberlain, who is confined to a motorized scooter and lacks full use of his left arm, pumped his right hand into the air when left fielder Johnny Damon ran down Billy Butler’s drive with one on and two outs in the eighth.

“Surrounded by loved ones – it just makes it that much more enjoyable,” he said through tears.

Before the game, Joba said the love and respect was mutual.

“If I can be half the man and half the father he was, I’ll be very, very happy and have a great life,” he said.

Joba was not surprised that his dad broke into tears at the sight of his son in a Yankees uniform.

“No, not at all. Not one bit. He’s as proud a father as anybody can be,’ he said. “It’s good. I’m glad to have him here. At least I got to pitch.”