The left-hander said he was “ready to hang himself” after allowing three first-inning runs.
NO SILVER LININGS: Andy Pettitte received applause from fans after leaving yesterday’s 8-4 win over the Royals (inset), but the left-hander said he was “ready to hang himself” after allowing three first-inning runs. (Paul J. Bereswill (2))
The first innings of games have been a bit maddening for Andy Pettitte.
“I’m ready to hang myself, is what I’m ready to do,” Pettitte said. “I’m not going to lie to you.”
The Yankees’ 41-year-old lefty struggled again yesterday, though he earned career win No. 251 in an 8-4 triumph over the Royals. He lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) and putting a whopping 10 men on base. For the third straight start, Pettitte (7-6) surrendered multiple runs in the first inning. It’s a brutal trend.
Kansas City grabbed a 3-0 lead off Pettitte in the first inning, thanks to three hits, a walk and a sacrifice fly.
A mystified Pettitte said he is still searching for an explanation for his bumpy starts.
“I’m focusing on everything. There’s nothing else I can do,” he said. “I’m ready to pitch.”
Pettitte’s outing was of concern for many reasons. It came against one of the American League’s worst offenses (the Royals rank 12th in the league in runs). The Yankees’ all-time strikeout leader had difficulty avoiding bats, racking up just one strikeout in 28 at-bats. The unearned run Pettitte allowed in the second inning was a result of his own throwing error.
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Finally, the left-hander admitted he was winded in his sixth inning, saying his “legs gave way.”
In Pettitte’s last six starts, he posted an ugly 5.35 ERA and put 59 men on base in just 37 innings.
“Not very good. Not what I expected I would do,” he said. “It’s a grind right now for me. I feel like it’s got to turn.”
Pettitte said he doesn’t think he is pitching terribly, noting he is not serving up a ton of home runs. Nevertheless, this has not been an inspiring first half.
The Royals reached twice on bunts against Pettitte, once in the first inning and again in the second. On the second bunt, he threw the ball away, allowing hitter David Lough to take second.
“It seems like for me, every bunt’s a perfect bunt,” Pettitte said, adding that sometimes the Robinson Cano/Lyle Overbay duo will handle them. “Right now I just don’t think we’re getting it done.”
At the moment, neither is Pettitte.