Pettitte Pitches Scoreless Inning in Yankees’ 8-3 Defeat of Mets

Andy Pettitte, pitching in his first game since the 2010 American League Championship Series, threw a scoreless sixth inning in the New York Yankees’ 8-3 victory against the New York Mets in their final preseason game.

Pettitte, 39, allowed a leadoff single by Cory Vaughn and then retired the side yesterday at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.

“I felt good,” Pettitte told reporters. “It was good to be able to get out there and get the inning in, especially in a big league game. It’s just another good step.”

Last month, the All-Star pitcher signed a minor-league contract to return to the Yankees, ending his one-season retirement. The deal included an invitation to the Major League Baseball team’s spring training camp.

“It was good to see him get on the hill,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters. “What I thought was pretty special to watch was how many of our guys stayed around to see him pitch. Usually when guys come out, they shower, ice and they go home. You had a lot of guys stay a long time today.”

Pettitte said in February 2011 that he decided to end his 16-year major league career because he didn’t want to play another season although he was healthy.

He won’t be with the Yankees when they open their season April 6 against the Tampa Bay Rays. CC Sabathia will be pitching for New York and James Shields will take the mound for the Rays.

Pettitte, a three-time All-Star who has 240 victories in 16 seasons with the Yankees and Houston Astros, said he’ll make some starts for the Class A Tampa Yankees or in extended spring camp with the possibility of rejoining the major league club in early May.

To contact the reporter on this story: Nancy Kercheval in Washington at nkercheval@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net