The 38-year-old left-hander tossed seven innings of two-run, five-hit ball on Thursday night, leading his Yankees to a 5-2 win and 2-0 lead in the ALDS over the Minnesota Twins.
Pettitte started the 2010 season in All-Star form, but was placed on the disabled list on July 18 with a strained groin. In his final three regular season starts since returning to the rotation on Sept. 19, he went just 0-1 with a 6.57 ERA. Quite simply, he looked banged up.
But Pettitte, a proud member of the Yankees' Core Four, has been one of the most reliable postseason pitchers in Yankees history since he beat John Smoltz 1-0 in Game 5 of the 1996 World Series.
He knows there's no room for injury excuses in October.
With his win on Thursday, Pettitte improved to 19-9 all time in the postseason — 18 of those wins have come with New York (Pettitte went 1-1 in the 2005 playoffs with the Houston Astros).
At 38 years old, Pettitte looked like he might as well have been 24 against the Twins. He gave up just two extra base hits; he walked just one batter; he threw just 88 pitches.
OK, those aren't Roy Halladay numbers.
But they're solid, and that's all the Yankees can ask from Pettitte, who has given the organization everything he has in 11 different Octobers.
If the Yankees want to have a shot at defending their World Series title, they'll need more consistent starts almost every night.
Based on history, Pettitte will likely come through any time he's called upon.
