Andy Pettitte surrendered the game ball with two runners on in the eighth inning. The pending milestone – a tribute to his longevity – would not depend on him going the distance Friday night.
Instead, Pettitte’s 200th career win as a Yankee was in the hands of the volatile Joba Chamberlain. The potential for the festivities to hold over were there, given the situation. A sacrifice fly RBI from the first batter confirmed the uncertainty.
But the inning was salvaged with a slender lead still intact. The ball was passed on to closer Mariano Rivera, who jammed three straight Astros in the ninth for the 4-3 victory. Then, the ball was returned to Pettitte – who officially joined Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing (231) as the only Yankee pitchers ever to reach the milestone – after the game.
“It’s great, it really is," Pettitte said. “Guys are just coming in here and hugging me and (Mariano Rivera) had the baseball and handed it to me so, that’s awesome. It’s special, there’s not a lot of guys who have won that many games as a Yankee so, it’s a good thing. I’m real happy.”
Before the chain of events unfolded late in Friday’s 4-3 Yankee win over Houston, Pettitte (8-1) had delivered a trademark performance. Sturdy, and dominant, at times. An array of changeups, fastballs, cutters, curves and sinkers forced the Astros hitters into uncomfortable fly-balls and ground outs. Four went down swinging, including Houston leadoff hitter Michael Bourn, who struck out three times.
In a little more than seven innings of work, Pettitte threw just 98 pitches, 68 for strikes.
“I thought he was outstanding,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “…One day I think he’ll be able to sit back and be very fond of what he’s done in his career.”
After cruising through the first inning, the bottom half of the Astros order began to pick at Pettitte in the second. Hunter Pence drew a walk on a grueling nine-pitch at-bat. Pedro Feliz knocked a fastball to right and Tommy Manzella crushed a cutter for a line drive to left.
Pettitte readjusted. Between the third inning and the start of the eighth – when he was pulled – Pettitte gave up just one hit.
“After the first time through the order he starts making better pitches, more quality pitches,” Girardi said. “That’s true for a lot of starters, it takes them a couple innings to get going and to find their footing. Some pitchers just take a little longer to get going.”
Pettitte was dismissive about even jokingly trying to pass Ford’s record. He said he thought about the injuries, about leaving to play for the Astros for a couple years. Perhaps this moment would have come two or three years ago.
“I don’t regret it, I don’t,” Pettitte said. “I felt like it was what I needed to do at the time.”
But Mark Teixiera thought otherwise. He wouldn’t put 237 passed Pettitte – even at this point.
“Sometimes experience overcomes youth,” Teixiera said. “Andy can do whatever he wants. If Andy wants to do it, I’m not going to bet against him.”
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Instead, Pettitte’s 200th career win as a Yankee was in the hands of the volatile Joba Chamberlain. The potential for the festivities to hold over were there, given the situation. A sacrifice fly RBI from the first batter confirmed the uncertainty.
But the inning was salvaged with a slender lead still intact. The ball was passed on to closer Mariano Rivera, who jammed three straight Astros in the ninth for the 4-3 victory. Then, the ball was returned to Pettitte – who officially joined Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing (231) as the only Yankee pitchers ever to reach the milestone – after the game.
“It’s great, it really is," Pettitte said. “Guys are just coming in here and hugging me and (Mariano Rivera) had the baseball and handed it to me so, that’s awesome. It’s special, there’s not a lot of guys who have won that many games as a Yankee so, it’s a good thing. I’m real happy.”
Before the chain of events unfolded late in Friday’s 4-3 Yankee win over Houston, Pettitte (8-1) had delivered a trademark performance. Sturdy, and dominant, at times. An array of changeups, fastballs, cutters, curves and sinkers forced the Astros hitters into uncomfortable fly-balls and ground outs. Four went down swinging, including Houston leadoff hitter Michael Bourn, who struck out three times.
In a little more than seven innings of work, Pettitte threw just 98 pitches, 68 for strikes.
“I thought he was outstanding,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “…One day I think he’ll be able to sit back and be very fond of what he’s done in his career.”
After cruising through the first inning, the bottom half of the Astros order began to pick at Pettitte in the second. Hunter Pence drew a walk on a grueling nine-pitch at-bat. Pedro Feliz knocked a fastball to right and Tommy Manzella crushed a cutter for a line drive to left.
Pettitte readjusted. Between the third inning and the start of the eighth – when he was pulled – Pettitte gave up just one hit.
“After the first time through the order he starts making better pitches, more quality pitches,” Girardi said. “That’s true for a lot of starters, it takes them a couple innings to get going and to find their footing. Some pitchers just take a little longer to get going.”
Pettitte was dismissive about even jokingly trying to pass Ford’s record. He said he thought about the injuries, about leaving to play for the Astros for a couple years. Perhaps this moment would have come two or three years ago.
“I don’t regret it, I don’t,” Pettitte said. “I felt like it was what I needed to do at the time.”
But Mark Teixiera thought otherwise. He wouldn’t put 237 passed Pettitte – even at this point.
“Sometimes experience overcomes youth,” Teixiera said. “Andy can do whatever he wants. If Andy wants to do it, I’m not going to bet against him.”
Inappropriate post? Alert us.
NJ.com
