There really is no question that Joba Chamberlain was bugged by the flying insects at Jacobs Field in his worst big-league inning yet.

OK, maybe there were some rookie nerves, some natural butterflies (which are better than ants with wings, right?) that helped his undoing and wildness.

But I can empathize with Joba in terms of bugs in Cleveland. Way back when, I did quite a bit of travelling with the Yankees and I can always remember those hot, summer nights in old Municipal Stadium, which was right up against Lake Erie.

By the time we, the reporters, did out interviews and got back up to the rickety old, wooden, wide-open pressbox, the giant stadium was empty. And all the lights were off except for those in the pressbox.

That meant that, within minutes, every gnat, flying ant, mosquito and moth on Lake Erie was in the pressbox. It looked like a cloud of bugs in there and we’d get chewed up something awful.

It was pretty gross seeing those bugs on Joba’s neck and face and hat, wasn’t it. I found myself scratching and itching just watching him. Horrible.

Meanwhile, for those who believe in bad omens, the Yankees announced that Bob Sheppard, the voice of Yankee Stadium (and the Voice of God), who has been doing games since opening day, 1951, will miss Game 3 with a bronchial infection.

Sheppard hasn’t missed a postseason game, working 121 in a row, starting with the Oct. 4, 1951 World Series game between the Yankees and the New York Giants (featuring rookies Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays).

His backup, Jim Hall, who does a pretty strong Sheppard impression, will work the home games until Sheppard recovers.