Next stop for Andy is Trenton, with Yanks in sight

Next stop for Andy is Trenton, with Yanks in sight

Antonelli/News

Andy Pettitte inches closer to returning to the mound for the Yankees.

BOSTON While Michael Pinedas rehab took a big step backward this weekend, Andy Pettittes march through the minors will continue as planned.

Pettitte will make his next start Wednesday in Trenton, moving up to Double-A after starting twice for Class-A Tampa and once in extended spring training. Pett itte threw five innings of two-run ball in an extended spring game against Pirates minor leaguers on Friday, allowing four hits and no walks, striking out five. He increased his pitch count to 66, throwing 58 of them for strikes.

LUPICA: BOBBY V'S NOT TO BLAME FOR BOSOX WOES

BOSOX BEATDOWN: YANKS RALLY FROM NINE RUNS DOWN TO SCORE 15-9 WIN

Wednesdays outing should see Pettitte push that pitch count to roughly 80, setting him up for a 95- to 100-pitch start five days later. I think you have to get to 85, 90 pitches and see how he feels and how he bounces back to make a prediction of how hes going to be and how he physically bounces back, Joe Girardi said. Can you run off four starts in a row on normal rest? I believe he can. In spring training pitchers go through that little dead arm or they need an extra day, and I dont think thats going to be an issue. But its getting close to a reality now. Pettitte is likely to m ake three more minor-league starts before joining the Yankees, possibly for the series against the Mariners on May 11. GIRARDI SHUFFLE While Brett Gardner is on the shelf, Raul Ibanez and Andruw Jones are likely to form a straight platoon in left field, Girardi said, meaning that the manager will be using different designated hitters. Jones started in left Saturday against lefty Felix Doubront and Derek Jeter was the DH, meaning Eduardo Nunez started at shortstop. A ripple effect of the platoon probably will be that Nunez and Eric Chavez, who can DH or play first or third, will be a platoon in a sense, too, either filling in in the field when Jeter or Alex Rodriguez is the DH, or getting DH at-bats. BYRD MIGRATES Feeling the strain from injuries to starting outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford, the Red Sox turned to former Boston GM Theo Epstein, now running the Cubs, and acquired center fielder Marlon Byrd for pitcher Micha el Bowden and a player to be named. Byrd, 34, doesnt seem like an upgrade, but there is no timetable for Ellsbury to return from a right shoulder injury and Crawford has a sore elbow after recovering from wrist surgery. Jason Repko started in center Friday and suffered a slightly separated left shoulder colliding with the wall after a catch, Bobby Valentine said. ... Boston third baseman Kevin Youkilis left in the fourth with a left thigh bruise from being hit by a David Phelps pitch.