In first test, Andy Amazes Mets

In first test, Andy Amazes Mets

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Yankees' Andy Pettitte picks off doubts ab out comeback from one-year retirement.

TAMPA Andy Pettitte will surely have bigger standing ovations this season, but the 10,813 at Steinbrenner Field served as a nice warmup for the veteran as he made his return to the mound Wednesday against the Mets.

Pettitte threw a scoreless sixth in the Yankees 8-3 win, giving up one hit in a quick, 13-pitch inning.

It was good to be able to get out there and get the inning in, especially in a big-league game, Pettitte said. Its just another good step. I felt good. Id like to try to get on every fifth day now and get on a good routine.

Pettitte gave up a single to minor-leaguer Cory Vaughn, who chopped one over the first basemans head. Scott Hairston popped out to shortstop, then Russell Martin threw Vaughn out trying to steal second. Pettitte finished the inning with a groundout off the bat of another minor-leaguer, catcher Mike Nickeas.

I thought he was all right. It was good to see him get on the hill, Joe Girardi said. What I thought was pretty special to watch was how many of our guys stayed around to see him pitch. Usually when guys come out, they shower, ice and they go home. You had a lot of guys stay a long time today.

It definitely felt a little weird, theres no doubt about it, but once I got out there it was just like I never left, Pettitte said. On the day you pitch, you know something is different about your body. Thats how I felt today.

The Yankees wont see Pettitte throw again for a month or so, as hell stay behind in Tampa and do his work at the teams minor-league complex while they open the season Friday against the Rays in St. Petersburg.

Pettitte was pleased with his command during his first outing of the spring.

For me, I feel like the stuff is there, Pettitte said. I just need to build up the stamina.

Pettitte didnt have a chance to throw a changeup, so hes looking forward to mixing in more of his stuff and seeing more situations as his inning count begins to build.

All that stuff is the stuff Im looking forward to working on as I get ready to do this, Pettitte said. Working out of the stretch, working with runners on base and just getting used to doing all that again. Everything is proceeding very smoothly right now. Russ was real happy with the way I threw and all my pitches were right where I wanted them for that short inning. That was a plus.

Martin gave Pettitte a positive review, saying he looked like the same guy he saw in the bullpen a couple weeks ago when he caught him for the first time.

Martin said you cant tell that Pettitte has been out of the game for more than a year, but the biggest challenge facing the lefthander will simply be building his stamina to the point where he can be effective over the course of 100-plus pitches.

Assuming Pettitte begins his five-day routine, hell make his next start Monday, throwing two inni ngs. After that, hell increase his workload by an inning each time, lining him up to return in early May.

I would hope its that simple, Pettitte said. I would plan on it being that simple. Unless Im throwing and feeling awkward, Ill just continue to go as my innings and pitches count goes up there. I dont foresee that happening. I feel like just from today when a baserunner gets on there, its all coming back. Its just a matter of going out there and doing that.