Yanks Beat Mariners 8-2

S E A T T L E, Oct. 14, 2000 -- All the signs pointed toward another meltdown for

Andy Pettitte.

He’d dodged the barrel of a broken bat, ducked a hard shot upthe middle and given up three straight hits—and still wasn’t evenclose to getting out of the first inning Friday night.

Pettitte was in trouble again, the same way he was in hisprevious start—a disastrous outing in Oakland that threatened toend the New York Yankees’ bid for a third straight World Seriestitle.

Then, somehow, he suddenly turned back into the October acemanager Joe Torre could always count on.

“After I gave up the run in the first, the guys came right backand battled,” Pettitte said. “It was nice to be able to hold alead. It was big, I’ve been in trouble so much lately.”

Pulling his cap down low, his dark eyes focused, Pettittepersevered. He earned his fifth straight victory in postseasonplay, pitching the Yankees past Seattle 8-2 for a 2-1 lead in thebest-of-7 AL championship series.

Turns Pitching Game Around

“I’m very happy, it’s never easy for me,” he said.

Pettitte eventually was pulled after 6 2-3 innings, trotting tothe dugout where teammates and coaches waited to bump fists withhim.

“I became a big fan of Andy Pettitte in 1996 because he didsomething in postseason play and in very pivotal games in thepennant stretch that I never had a chance to do,” Torre saidbefore Game 3. “And I guess I put a lot of weight and a lot ofstock in that type of performance, and I would never lose sight ofthat.”

After the win, Torre echoed those remarks.

“That effort reminded me of 1996,” he said. “He got himself,but every time he put himself in a jam, he made quality pitches toget out of it.”

It was that kind of confidence that let Torre, along withgeneral manager Brian Cashman, talk Yankees owner GeorgeSteinbrenner out of trading Pettitte to the Philadelphia Philliesin July 1999.

Pettitte, 100-55 in his career, improved to 8-4 overall inpostseason play. He beat Oakland in Game 2 of the division series,but lasted only 3 2-3 innings in the decisive Game 5, which theYankees held on to win.

This game had the makings of a repeat performance of that day atthe Coliseum.

Stayed in for Over Six Innings

Rickey Henderson shattered his bat leading off the Marinersfirst inning, and the flying barrel caused Pettitte to jump out ofthe way. After Mike Cameron singled, Alex Rodriguez hit aone-hopper that came close to Pettitte’s head.

When Edgar Martinez followed with a single, it was 1-0 and thefans at Safeco Field were getting loud, sensing an early knockout.

But Pettitte retired Jay Buhner on an easy grounder and JohnOlerud on a soft popup, then escaped a second-and-third, one-outjam in the second.

In all, Pettitte worked around nine hits, including Cameron’sRBI single in the fifth. The left-hander helped himself by walkingjust one and, using his deceptive move, picking off Martinez atfirst base.

“He was fine all the way, he gave us his best,” Yankees centerfielder Bernie Williams said. “I just can’t say enough about hisperformance today.”

Pettitte took a 4-2 lead into the seventh and walked MarkMcLemore with one out. With a 1-0 count on Henderson, Torre and theentire infield joined Pettitte on the mound, thinking he might’vehurt himself.

“He kept lifting his leg and I thought he had pulledsomething,” Torre said. “He was just getting a cramp.”

Pettitte also had a message for Torre during that visit.

“He said, ‘I’ll get this guy, skip.’ And he did,” Torre said.

Pettitte retired Henderson on a fly ball and with reliever JeffNelson warmed up and ready, Torre again made his way out.

Torre put his arm around Pettitte’s shoulder and, after a briefpause, took the ball and sent his pitcher to the dugout whereanother well-deserved round of October congratulations awaited him.