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August 4, 1996: Pettitte great in Yankees win over Royals

RELIVE 1996 Header

 

Andy Pettitte continued to play the role of stopper for this Yankees team, as he struck out a career high 11 over seven innings while giving up just one run in a 5-3 win over Kansas City this afternoon.

Pettitte captured his 16th win of the season, and put to rest any question about his stiff elbow. Manager Joe Torre was impressed. ”Andy was great. He looked so smooth,” Torre said. ”Today, that’s as good as he can be right there.” (Via NY Times)

Torre praised his pitcher’s ability to step up in big situations, especially when the team lost some key guys to injuries early on. ”He’s been able to pitch big games for us,” Torre said. ”With losing David Cone and having Jimmy Key on the disabled list a few times, to have him step up is a really pleasant thing to have happen. I didn’t count on that in spring training.” (Via NY Times)

The 24-year-old southpaw is now 10-0 with a 2.37 ERA in day games this season, compared to 6-6 with a 5.80 ERA in night games.”It’s crazy because I wake up and feel tired,” Pettitte said. ”I don’t think I’m a morning person. Ask my wife.” (Via NY Times) More importantly, Pettitte is 9-2 following a Yankees loss.

The Yankees gave Pettitte a lead before he even took the mound when Paul O’Neill smacked his 12th home run of the season off Jose Rosado. New York was able to take control of the game completely in the fourth. After three straight singles to load the bases, Mariano Duncan nearly missed a grand slam, and instead settled for a two-run double. Duncan, who is now hitting .331 on the season, has 13 hits in his last 22 at-bats.

A Bernie Williams sac fly RBI and a Derek Jeter RBI single later, and the Yankees were on their way towards their 65th win. They still hold a 10 game lead over Baltimore in the division.

Jeff Nelson and John Wetteland took over after Pettitte, with Wetteland making things interesting in the ninth. He gave up two runs to cut the lead to 5-3, but was able to shut the door as he’s done so many times this season.

The Yankees will have the chance to split this four-game series with the Royals tomorrow night. Jimmy Key starts against Chris Haney.

Box score and current stats

 

         1 2 3  4 5 6  7 8 9  R  H  E
         - - -  - - -  - - -  -  -  -
Yankees  1 0 0  4 0 0  0 0 0  5 12  0
Royals   0 0 0  0 1 0  0 0 2  3  8  0


Batting      AB R  H RBI BB SO BA  OBP  SLG
                                                      
Jeter SS      4 0  2  1  0  0 .299 .363 .413
Boggs 3B      5 0  0  0  0  0 .307 .385 .389
ONeill RF     5 1  2  1  0  1 .306 .425 .468
Fielder DH    4 1  2  0  0  1 .250 .352 .485
B.Williams CF 4 1  1  0  0  1 .303 .386 .522
Martinez 1B   3 1  2  0  1  1 .296 .356 .454
Duncan 2B     3 1  2  2  0  0 .332 .347 .479
Fox 2B        1 0  0  0  0  0 .201 .287 .268
Leyritz C     3 0  1  0  1  1 .248 .340 .356
G.Williams LF 3 0  0  1  0  1 .284 .335 .459


2B:Duncan 2 (22)
HR:O'Neill (12)
RBI:Duncan 2 (38);G.Williams (30);Jeter (47)
O'Neill (61).


Pitching         IP H R ER BB SO  ERA
                                             
Pettitte W (16-6) 7 4 1  1  1 11 4.27
Nelson            1 1 0  0  0  3 4.15
Wetteland         1 3 2  2  0  0 3.40