Andy Pettitte, Yankees go for title vs. old foe Pedro Martinez
world series
By Mike Fitzpatrick
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Published: November 4, 2009
NEW YORK — Andy Pettitte leaned forward in his chair and recounted a recent chat he had with Derek Jeter as soon as they realized what was next in this World Series.
Derek Jeter and the Yankees face the Phillies tonight in Game 6 of the World Series. AP photo
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Pettitte vs. old foe
Pedro Martinez, with the
Yankees one win from ecstasy.
Still chasing that elusive 27th championship, New York turns to Pettitte once again in Game 6 on Wednesday night, hoping he can pitch his team past the
Philadelphia Phillies on only three days’ rest.
"Me and Derek were talking about it in the clubhouse last night. Just, how strange is this?” Pettitte said Tuesday. "I think everybody knew it was going to be a great Series. I think everybody knew it was going to be a tough Series. And it looks like it’s living up to that.”
After wasting a chance to wrap things up in Game 5 at Philly, the Yanks set their sights on clinching at home. They’d love to christen their $1.5 billion ballpark with a World Series crown in its first season and give a seventh title to 79-year-old owner
George Steinbrenner.
They’ve got two chances to do it. Game 7 would be Thursday night in the
Bronx if necessary, with ace
CC Sabathia pitching — also on short rest.
"People expect us to be great all the time. We just need to be great tomorrow night,”
Johnny Damon said.
Coming off an 8-6 victory Monday night that trimmed their Series deficit to 3-2, the defending champion Phillies took the train to New York on Tuesday, a ride that takes a little more than an hour. They chose not to work out at
Yankee Stadium, but their opponents did.
Martinez and Manuel showed up at the ballpark for news conferences. Manuel was uncertain whether All-Star center fielder
Shane Victorino would be able to play in Game 6 after getting hit in the right hand with
A.J. Burnett’s 95 mph fastball Monday night.
If Victorino can’t go,
Ben Francisco would likely start in center.
Riding
Chase Utley’s homers, the Phillies are trying to become the first team to rally from a 3-1 World Series deficit since the 1985
Kansas City Royals — and the first NL club to win consecutive championships since the 1975-76
Cincinnati Reds.
Philadelphia might need
Ryan Howard to break out of his untimely slump. The big slugger is batting .158 (3-for-19) with 12 strikeouts, tying the Series record set by Kansas City’s
Willie Wilson in 1980.
Utley, however, is doing more than his share. His five home runs matched the mark set by Yankees
Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson in 1977.
On the other side, second-year New York manager
Joe Girardi confirmed that he won’t hesitate to use a well-rested
Mariano Rivera for multiple innings to try and close it out.
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