Even though Pettitte pitches, it doesn't rain
New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte (46) delivers apitch to the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning. (April 2, 2010) Credit: AP
TAMPA, Fla. - The Friday forecast called for virtually no chance of rain, but with Andy Pettitte scheduled to start, no one took that seriously.
"Dave [pitching coach Eiland] told me several days ago, it was zero percent chance," said Pettitte, whose schedule has been disrupted by rain throughout spring training. "I was still . . . everybody was joking. They were expecting a black cloud to move in."
But he took the mound under sunny skies and it stayed that way. In his longest outing, Pettitte gave up seven hits, a walk and no runs in 41/3 innings, throwing 78 pitches (41 strikes).
Leading up to Friday, Pettitte had pitched a combined five innings and thrown 63 pitches in "real" games because of rain-related issues.
"I got a little tired at the end, which I knew was going to happen," said Pettitte, who will start the season's third game at Fenway Park on Wednesday night. "Even though I threw 100 pitches my last time out [a simulated game], you can't simulate the adrenaline and having batters in there . . . The biggest reason I needed this was to build my stamina up. You can't build your stamina up in simulated games."
Verbal volleyAfter Mariano Rivera hit the Orioles' Felix Pie in the sixth inning, Joe Girardi went out to talk to the closer, who wound up being charged with three unearned runs in the inning because of a throwing error.
Rivera said the visit was because he has been feeling ill - a combination of allergies and a cold - but Girardi said he heard something from the Orioles' dugout and saw Rivera step off the mound in response.
Girardi said he didn't think it was directed at Rivera per se. "It might have been in response to my frustration the other day," he said. "It's OK." Girardi expressed some displeasure Monday night after Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie hit Mark Teixeira and Francisco Cervelli.
Extra basesNick Swisher, homerless much of spring training, hit his second in his last four games . . . LHP Royce Ring was reassigned . . . OF Jon Weber, 32, who hit .483, received the James P. Dawson Award, given annually to the camp's top rookie . . . The Yankees finished 13-15-1 with their 6-6 tie with the Orioles.
