TORONTO — The story of Andy Pettitte’s career has been stepping up with clutch performances when the Yankees need him most. It’s perhaps no surpris𝔉e then the veteran left-hander has found his consistency just as the Yankees are trying to stay in the playoff race.
Pettitte (10-9, 4.05 ERA) picked up his third consecutive win on Tuesday, throwing seven shutout innings in the Yankees’ 7-1 win over the Blue Jays Tuesday ni𒅌ght at Rogers Centre. Staked to a 4-0 lead before he hit the mound, Pettitte limit♈ed the Jays to five hits and two walks while striking out three.
“Everything was working pretty good again today,” Pe✃ttitte said. “Obviously we got a lead early and that was very helpful for me to be aggꦉressive. I felt I was locating everything really well.
“We played great defense, the guys scored some runs and it really ꦍlet me settle 🃏in.”
Pettitte has allowed just one earned run over his last three starts, a stretch of 19 1/3 innings. Minus an ugly seven-run outing against t▨he White Sox on Aug. 5, Pettitte has given up just six earned runs in 37 innings (a 1.46 ERA) sinc𒁃e July 24.
It has b﷽een a strong return to form for Pettitte, who had a 2.22 🍌ERA after his first four starts of 2013 and then a 5.31 ERA over his next 13 outings.
ꦡ Though this is Pettitte’s 18th big-league season, the left-hander said he was struggling with some basic pitching fundamentals that still required some fine-tuning.
“It hasܫ to do with my arm slot and hand position,” Pettitte said. “At my age I didn’t think I’d ever lose that again, to tell you the truth, and I felt like I did. I’m still battling with my changeup a little bit in terms of cutting it but I feel I’m working things out with that pitch as well.
“The pitches weren’t doing what they were suppo🍷sed to be doing and they’re cooperating right now, so hopefully they’ll cooperate the rest of the season.”
The Yankees defense also gave Pettitte aꦰ hand. They had two 5-4-3 double plays started by Alex Rodriguez. Brett Gardner also delivered an outfield assist in the fifth, throwing out Moise💮s Sierra at home as the Blue Jay right fielder attempted to score from second on a Ryan Goins ground ball single up the middle.
Pettitte threw just 86 pitches, but with ෴the game in hand, manager Joe Girardi said he felt it was prudent to keep Pettitte fresh for September.
“We’ll save him as much as we can,” Girardi said.
The win was the 255th of Pettitte’s career, moving him past Red Faber and Jack Morris and into sole possession of 42nd on the 🌳all-time wꦗins list.
Morris, now a Blue Jays broadcaster, said he was “proud” to see Pettitte pass him in the record books and he praiꦡsed the southpaw’s 🍒competitiveness.
“He’s got that pride, being old-school in his own way. Andy loves to win,” Morris said. “His postseason is almost a season itself, ꦓall the opportunities he’s gotten. Once it’s all said and done, he’s going to have quite a resume to talk about.”