Andy Pettitte passes first test, beats Blue Jays in his return

The crowd of reporters around Andy Pettitte's locker was nothing new, and until Wednesday afternoon, it was a scene that had been playfully mocked by Derek Jeter, who found the endless rehab discussion pointless.

But not this time, not after Pettitte returned from the DL to pitch five scoreless innings in the Yankees' unnervingly close 4-2 victory over the Blue Jays in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader sweep. This one had to bring back memories for Jeter of past Septembers, with their own critical games and similar stabilizing efforts from Pettitte.

"What a performance," Jeter said, smiling.

The Yankees' captain still was poking fun at his friend. It was, after all, a relatively brief 75-pitching outing against a benign Blue Jays lineup seemingly tailored to provide a cushy re-entry for Pettitte. And with a sparse crowd for the makeup game, this one even had the feel of a fourth simulated game.

"I could hear people talking," Pettitte said.

Despite the low-key atmosphere, this was -- as Joe Girardi likes to say -- a high-leverage situation. For the Yankees, trying to maintain a first-place foothold, and for Pettitte, who needs to prove he can be depended on as the stakes get higher.

Listening to Pettitte, he wasn't entirely convinced. At his best, before Casey Kotchman's one-hopper cracked his ankle, Pettitte knows he would have mowed through the mediocre group Toronto put together for Game 1 of the doubleheader. Instead, he did what was necessary.

"This was just a good one to get behind you," Pettitte said.

He labored through a 24-pitch second inning to strand runners at first and third, getting the No. 9 hitter, Anthony Gose, on a groundout to Nick Swisher. Pettitte escaped the same predicament in the third -- only with one out -- when he coaxed a double-play grounder from cleanup hitter Adam Lind.

That same inning, Pettitte and Swisher combined for what the pitcher called a "train wreck" on Brett Lawrie's bouncer to first base. Swisher wound up with two errors on the same play -- one on the bobble, a second on the botched throw -- and Pettitte, galloping to cover, laughed at the suggestion he didn't look very smooth. Or that he ever has.

But that's not what Pettitte was being graded on in his first start since June 27. It was more of an overall systems check, and he emerged with no serious concerns, other than a few areas to work on for his next turn, Monday against the Twins.

"I didn't feel like I was as sharp as I was, even in my simulated games," Pettitte said. "And my legs, they didn't feel that great under me."

Pettitte blamed some of that on too much rest, a negative side effect from Tuesday's rainout. But he also has to be realistic. After nearly three months on the shelf, this was like a mid-March start for Pettitte, who doesn't figure to reach his optimal performance level until his final start of the regular season.

Fortunately for Pettitte, his road to October -- and maybe even a first-round wild-card assignment, if it comes to that -- includes manageable tuneups against the Blue Jays (twice) and Twins. It doesn't make those games any less important, however, which is fine with him.

"That's what I love to do," Pettitte said. "I'm just so thankful to be able to be back."

The feeling was mutual. Finally seeing Pettitte on the mound again brought a measure of comfort to the Yankees, who find themselves clutching for the 40-year-old lefthander during these anxious times like Linus for his security blanket.

Pettitte has no intention of letting them down. With a .643 winning percentage (36-20) in September/October and another 19 victories with 10 losses in 42 career playoff starts, it's not empty talk, either. "You know what's expected," Pettitte said. "I expect to be here to do it."