Pettitte deals in victory

To say Andy Pettitte struggled last season would be an understatement.  While he won 14 games, he only went 4-7 in his 13 starts after the All-Star break.  His season ERA – 4.54 – was his highest since 1999.  And in an offseason that saw the Yankees throw money at CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira, Pettitte had to settle for a one-year, $5.5 million (plus incentives).

But Pettitte started off his season in great fashion this afternoon in the Yankees’ 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals.  Pettitte allowed only one run and scattered three hits over seven innings.  He struck out six batters and walked one.  If Nick Swisher didn’t drop Mike Jacobs’ fly ball in right, Pettitte would not have given up a run (if you believe in the fallacy of the predetermined outcome).

The Yankees scored two runs against old friend Sidney Ponson in the first inning before Pettitte even touched the ball.  After Derek Jeter grounded out to lead the game off, Johnny Damon singled to left and Teixeira walked.  Hideki Matsui’s groundout moved the two runners over for Jorge Posada.  The catcher scolded a single off the glove of Jacobs into right field to score two runs.

Jacobs’ generous double off Swisher’s glove plated the Royals’ only run, cutting the Yankees’ lead in half.

The Yankees would get two more in the fourth.  Robinson Cano led off with a single and was driven home on Swisher’s double into the left center field gap.  A few batters later, Jeter drove in a run on a fielder’s choice groundout.  That would be all the scoring on this day.

Cano went 2-for-3 with a walk (intentional).  He is now 8-for-14 with four walks to begin the season.  Teixeira hit his second double of the season and Posada’s two RBI give him three on the year.

Brian Bruney pitched a scoreless eighth, striking out two, and Mariano Rivera struck out two in the ninth for his first save of the season.

Sabathia and Horacio Ramirez will face off tomorrow night at 7:10 p.m. in a battle of southpaws.

AP Photo