Coming back from Tommy John surgery. Being a slightly undersized pitcher in a world of increasing mound giants. Shuttling from one Major League franchise to another to another in the span of just two years.

To say that Matt Festa has had to overcome his share of hurdles in pursuit of his dream is an understatement, but the St. Joseph by-the-Sea product found himself pitching against his favorite childhood team on Sunday when the Texas Rangers used the newly recalled right-hander to face the Yankees in the Bronx, wrapping up a three-game series between the defending World Series champions and the Bombers.

The bullpen-strapped Rangers would see their rally fall short, dropping an 8-7 decision to fall 7 1/2 games behind in the AL West standings and 10 games back of the third and final wild-card spot.

Festa, 31, entered the game to start the bottom of the sixth inning with Texas already down 5-1. Glyber Torres reached on an infield single to open the frame for the Yanks and Jazz Chisholm followed with a single to right, putting runners on the corners. After Festa got Anthony Volpe to foul out, Chisholm stole second and D.J. LeMahieu knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly to right. It was then that Rangers manager Bruce Bochy lifted the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder for veteran lefty Andrew Chafin, who retired Alex Verdugo on a fly to left to end the inning.

For his MLB career, which began with the Mariners in 2018, Festa has a 4.66 ERA with a 2-3 record and two saves. At Triple-A this year, Festa owned a 2.70 ERA in 33 games in the Padres, Mets, and Rangers’ systems. He signed a minor league contract with Texas back in July and re-upped with the team after he was released in August.

He made one appearance with the Mets this season, where he was tagged with the loss and subsequently released.