Pettitte's next start: In Altoona on Tuesday
Andy Pettitte should make a rehab start at Triple-A Trenton on Wednesday. Credit: John Dunn
ARLINGTON, Texas - Needless to say, Andy Pettitte probably didn't think he'd be getting any starts in Altoona, Pa., this year. But that's where he'll pitch Tuesday in his final rehab appearance before returning to the Yankees' rotation. If there are no setbacks, Pettitte, out since July 18 with a strained groin, will start Sunday in Baltimore.
"I feel like I'm a healthy player and I'm good to go now," Pettitte said before last night's game. He later said, "There's no doubt I could pitch in a big-league game Tuesday night."
Had Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre won its playoff series - it didn't, losing Saturday- Pettitte likely would have started in Scranton on Tuesday. Instead, he'll pitch for the Double-A Trenton Thunder, for whom he made a successful rehab start Thursday. This time it will be in Altoona against the Curve in Game 1 of the Eastern League championship series.
After past instances in which he's pushed hard off the groin, Pettitte said he woke up the next day sore. That was not the case after Thursday's outing.
"I felt great," he said. "I thought I was going to be really sore because I went hard, but I iced after the game, and we hadn't been icing a whole lot because they wanted to keep that muscle long and didn't want it to contract at all. So I ended up icing after the game and I woke up with almost no soreness."
Extra bases
Jorge Posada pinch hit with one out in the seventh last night and hit into a double play with the bases loaded and the Yankees trailing 4-3. He likely will be behind the plate Sunday . . . Kevin Russo and Juan Miranda will join the Yankees tomorrow.
