From Newsday

Pettitte sharp but can't grab a win

BY RODERICK BOONE | roderick.boone@newsday.com

May 7, 2008

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He jogged off the mound with the Yankees holding a one-run lead in the seventh and many in the Stadium crowd of 50,713 applauded his effort.

Andy Pettitte tipped his cap and then disappeared into the dugout. Not long after that, his chances for his fourth win of the season vanished, too, when Joba Chamberlain proved he is human after all and served up a game-deciding three-run homer to pinch hitter David Dellucci in the eighth inning of the Yankees' 5-3 loss.

"You hate to lose the game, but as far as how tough it is that's just part of it," Pettitte said. "It's not the first time that's happened and it sure as heck won't be the last. That's for sure."

Pettitte, who logged his 400th career start last night, hasn't been sharp recently. In his previous start last Wednesday against the Tigers, he yielded five runs on seven hits in six innings and got taken deep twice. He had lost his previous two starts on the heels of winning three in a row, but had it going last night.

Pettitte (3-3) limited the Indians to two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out a season-high six batters and walking only one. His only real mistake was a 2-and-1 two-seam fastball that didn't hit the intended target, and Jhonny Peralta made him pay for it by hitting a two-run shot to put the Indians ahead 2-1.

Other than that, Pettitte was sharp. Pettitte had good command of his four-seam fastball, cutter and curveball.

"He was great tonight," manager Joe Girardi said. "Peralta hit that two-run homer and he pretty much shut them down after that. He used all his pitches and was sharp tonight."

Still, Pettitte wasn't too happy with allowing another homer. That's six he's surrendered so far and it's becoming a sore point for him.

"When you are not used to giving up home runs, I'm getting a little tired of giving up home runs, especially more than solo shots," he said. "That's always going to be frustrating for me, but other than that I was really happy."

Pettitte was already in the clubhouse when Dellucci ruined his chances for a win. He didn't see the homer until he watched the replay on television.

He said he spoke to Chamberlain briefly when the game was over.

"He's going to give up runs," Pettitte said. "This is the big leagues, you know? I think he's kind of spoiled us to think he's going to be perfect every time out there. But we just bounce back and get ready to go at it tomorrow."