Like Old Times: Pettitte Rights Yanks

Yankees 6, Tigers 1

For most of the 54,290 fans in the stands at misty Yankee Stadium last night, this was the Andy Pettitte of their dreams. This was the Pettitte they remembered from the glory years, the one who took the ball in big games and delivered.

It did not always work that way, of course. Pettitte had his share of losses in his first stint with the Yankees. But his role in building a dynasty has made him a leader now. When the Yankees needed someone to snuff a burgeoning losing streak, Pettitte was their man.

burgeoning a. 增長迅速的

Pettitte worked eight innings, allowing a run and five hits in the Yankees’ 6-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers. The victory was the Yankees’ first in four games.

“We hit a little stumbling block, and he's been that guy his whole career, especially for the Yankees,” said Jason Giambi, who homered twice. “He hasn't missed a beat. He's the guy to go to.”

stumble v. 絆倒；蹣跚而行

The victory was the Yankees' first in four games, and the 2,041st of Joe Torre's managerial career, moving him past Walter Alston into seventh place on the career list. It was fitting that Pettitte was the winner, considering his history with Torre.

“When the game is important, or a need for us, he just responds so well,” Torre said. “He may not win, but he's always kept things together, and he just pitches tough.”

The rookie Joba Chamberlain recorded the last three outs to continue the electric start to his career. The crowd chanted Chamberlain's first name before he even threw a pitch, taking quickly to a pitcher who has had only four career outings.

“There were a lot of people here going crazy,” Chamberlain said. “It makes you feel good. You use that energy to the best. Sometimes you let it the most of you and you try to do too much, but I've done a good job of slowing the game down and getting used to the role.”

Chamberlain threw 10 pitches — 7 for strikes — and hit 99 miles an hour on the radar gun three times. His second pitch hummed it at 100.

Gary Sheffield, who is 0 for 7 in this series, flied to left to lead off the ninth. After a single by Magglio Ordóñez, Chamberlain induced a pop out from Carlos Guillén, then fanned Iván Rodríguez on a slider to end the game. In six scoreless innings, Chamberlain has allowed two hits and struck out nine.

Pettitte has a long history of success in the second half. He came into the game with a .708 career winning percentage after the All-Star Game break, second only to Johan Santana among active A.L. pitchers with at least 60 decisions.

This year has been no exception. Before last night, Pettitte was 5-1 with a 3.15 earned run average in seven starts since the break. The Tigers scored four runs in the top of the first against Mike Mussina on Thursday, but against Pettitte last night, they went down in order.

“I wanted to be aggressive,” said Pettitte, who worked on his mechanics last weekend to keep from opening his lead shoulder too soon. “Maybe that's something I made a conscious effort to do — come out and be aggressive with the team struggling.”

The second hitter, the top prospect Cameron Maybin, was making his major league debut. Pettitte, who said the scouting report on Maybin was that “he likes the heater,” whiffed him with his trademark biting slider. He did so again in the third.

whiff v. 【棒】三振(打者)

That had been an odd inning, starting with a single by Ryan Rayburn that Alex Rodriguez let roll down the third-base line. It hit the bag to stay fair.

That had been an odd inning, starting with a single by Ryan Rayburn that Alex Rodriguez let roll down the third-base line. It hit the bag to stay fair.

Phillips threw there, but Inge scrambled back to second base, where no fielders were waiting. Second baseman Robinson Canó had been backing up Jeter, and right fielder Bobby Abreu did not cover the bag for him.

After a walk and Maybin’s second strikeout, up came Sheffield, a favorite target of the fans. Sheffield bounced to Jeter for an inning-ending forceout.

The Tigers were leading, 1-0, but the Yankees came right back. Canó and Phillips singled to start the Yankees’ half of the third, and after two outs, Bobby Abreu bounced a bad-hop single over the glove of shortstop Guillén.

The break scored Cano to tie the game, and Rodriguez gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead with a ground-rule double to left. Giambi bashed Nate Robertson’s first pitch of the bottom of the fourth into the seats in right center, and he homered again off Aquilino Lopez in the eighth.

Giambi has four home runs in his last 18 at-bats, and he is batting .348 (8-for-23) since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 7.

“I'm fresh right now, so I've got good bat speed,” Giambi said. “I'm just seeing the ball and hitting it well.”