Pettitte leads Yankees

RONALD BLUM, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published October 23

NEW YORK -- When Andy Pettitte pitches in the postseason, the New York Yankees almost always win.

He is the constant in a starting rotation that has put the Yankees in the World Series for the fifth time in six years. The famous faces come and go, but Pettitte remains, speaking softly and pitching loudly.

Pettitte put the Yankees in the World Series for the fourth straight season, throwing six shutout innings while New York's batters beat up on Seattle, making the Mariners look like some heavyweight who crumpled to the canvas with a single punch.

He wound up allowing three runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings Monday night as the Yankees crushed Seattle 12-3 to win the AL championship series in five games.

And for getting half of his team's wins in the series, Pettitte was selected the series MVP.

"It's special for me," Pettitte said. "I'd by lying if I didn't say that. I've never won anything like that before. I'm not a pitcher who goes out and dominates games and strikes out a lot of hitters and stuff like that, so I never really expected to win anything like that. So it's definitely a nice surprise."

Pettitte struggled, but it didn't show. He and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre had a heated talk. Catcher Jorge Posada yelled at Pettitte.

"I don't know how I won this," Pettitte said. "Jorgy told me stuff in the third inning I can't repeat. I was making bad pitches all night."

Posada said Pettitte was trying to be too fine.

"I got him mad and got him fired up," Posada said. "I thought he was throwing too hard, trying to overpower hitters. He felt too good, felt too strong."

Pettitte is 10-5 in the postseason, and the Yankees are 17-5 in his starts, winning 11 of his last 12. Of New York's 14 series-winning games since 1996, he's started five. And, for the first time Monday, he got to start a clincher at home.

"Obviously it's a wonderful position to be in," Pettitte said.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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