Yankees pitcher Pettitte seeks Series clincher

NEW YORK — Pitcher Andy Pettitte leaned forward and recounted a recent chat he had with shortstop Derek Jeter as soon as they realized what was next in this World Series.

Pettitte versus old rival Pedro Martinez, with the Yankees one victory from ecstasy.

Still chasing a 27th championship, New York turns to Pettitte once again in Game 6 tonight, hoping he can pitch his team past the Philadelphia Phillies on a mere three days' rest.

"Me and Derek were talking about it in the clubhouse last night. Just, how strange is this?" Pettitte said Tuesday. "I think everybody knew it was going to be a great Series. I think everybody knew it was going to be a tough Series. And it looks like it's living up to that."

After wasting a chance to wrap things up in Game 5 in Philadelphia, the Yankees set their sights on clinching at home. They would love to christen their $1.5 billion park with a World Series title in its first season and give a seventh title to 79-year-old owner George Steinbrenner.

They have two chances to do it. Game 7 would be Thursday night in the Bronx , if necessary, with ace CC Sabathia pitching for New York — also on short rest.

"People expect us to be great all the time. We just need to be great tomorrow night," Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon said.

Pettitte has a knack for closing at this time of year. He owns 17 postseason victories and five that clinched series — both big-league records. Two of those clinchers came in the American League playoffs this year. He is 3-0 with a 3.24 earned-run average in four starts this postseason, including a shaky Game 3 victory in Philadelphia.

Pettitte, 37, and Martinez, 38, first squared off on the mound 11 years ago, but they have never done so in the postseason. Both pitchers are 3-3 in six matchups, all games between the Yankees and Boston Red Sox from 1998 to 2003. The visitor has won each time and Martinez has a 3.86 ERA to Pettitte's 5.88.

With so much on the line this time, it is a delicious matchup of gritty pros.

"Two old goats out there doing the best they can and having fun with it," Martinez said. "I don't have enough words to describe how excited I am about being here."

Martinez pitched well in a Game 2 loss at Yankee Stadium and gets the ball on regular rest for the first time since mid-September. He has had several long layoffs since.

Pettitte, on the other hand, will have three days between starts for the first time since Sept. 30, 2006, with Houston. The left-hander is 5-7 with a 4.18 ERA in 18 such outings during his career, including the postseason.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was uncertain whether All-Star center fielder Shane Victorino would be able to play in Game 6 after getting hit in the right hand with A.J. Burnett's 95 mph fastball Monday night.

If Victorino can't play, Ben Francisco would likely start in center.

Riding Chase Utley's homers, the Phillies are trying to become the first team to rally from a 3-1 World Series deficit since the 1985 Kansas City Royals — and the first NL club to win consecutive championships since the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds. Utley's five home runs match the mark set by Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson for the Yankees in 1977.

Note

• Manuel supports Cole Hamels, saying he would have confidence in sending the left-hander to the mound for a potential Game 7.

Ever since Hamels allowed five runs in 4-1/3 innings of an 8-5 loss to the Yankees in Game 3, his future has been the subject of debate among fans and media. After the outing, Hamels was quoted as saying he could not wait for the season to be over, which was interpreted by some to mean he had given up on pitching well in the postseason.

After Game 5, Hamels met with Manuel and later told media he did not realize how his answer to a question about how he would assess his season would look in print.

"I think Charlie knows me," Hamels said. "He's managed me for quite a few years. I think the only doubt it left in people's minds was the fans', and that hurts because I love the city of Philadelphia and I play as hard as I possibly can. I might not necessarily have the results that they hope, but I know that if I go out there and do everything I possibly can, and in the end, if they see that I've left everything I possibly can out on the field, then I think they can respect that."