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. He had the best pitcher in the American League — and gave him the ball to set a tone.

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

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.