Pettitte feels good in 26-pitch BP

TAMPA, Fla. -- Andy Pettitte wanted to do more. But pitching coach Larry Rothschild put up the stop sign.

"I felt really good out there today," Pettitte said after facing hitters in a 26-pitch live batting practice session Friday morning. "I felt like I could have probably thrown 10 or 15 more, but Larry said, let's just shut it down and let's just take it slow."

It was Pettitte's first live BP. He said he'll probably throw a "light" bullpen session Sunday before throwing another round of BP early next week. The general timetable the Yankees have given for the 39-year-old being back by May 1 has remained the same, though Rothschild and bullpen coach Mike Harkey both commented to Pettitte about the crispness of his pitches.

"I'm pleasantly surprised," Pettitte said. "I don't want to get overexcited because I haven't done anything yet. But I expect to be back to where I was or I wouldn't have come back, so I'll be disappointed if I don't. I feel like I'm getting there. We'll see. I hope I continue to progress the way I feel like I am."

WhateverJoe Girardi wasn't too concerned with Bobby Valentine's postgame comments after Thursday's 4-4 tie, which included saying Girardi wasn't being "courteous" when he pulled his team off the field because he was out of pitchers after the Red Sox tied it in the bottom of the ninth.

"I have to worry about our club and keeping our club healthy and not putting people in bad situations," Girardi said. "And he has to do the same thing for his club. As I said before, I'm going to worry about our guys."

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Nova mostly superIvan Nova was perfect for four innings before allowing two runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings of a seven-inning outing in the Yankees' 6-4 split-squad victory over the Twins at Steinbrenner Field.

"I like the way I threw the ball," said Nova, battling for one of the three open rotation spots.

Nova is 1-2 with a 6.86 ERA in five exhibition starts. Although he has had his moments, he hasn't been as consistent as contenders Phil Hughes, Freddy Garcia and Michael Pineda.

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"I know it's a competition,'' Nova said, "but I want my teammates to pitch well."

Jeter returnsDerek Jeter tested his stiff left calf Friday, playing for the first time in eight days. "Still have to be smart about it. It's still spring training," said Jeter, who played three innings and singled down the rightfield line in his first at-bat. "But everything was fine."

Kuroda cruisesHiroki Kuroda went 52/3 innings in Clearwater against the Phillies in the other split-squad game, a 5-3 Yankees victory, allowing one run, six hits and a walk and striking out three. Robinson Cano had three hits, including two doubles, and two RBIs.