Andy Pettitte

TAMPA, Fla.-- --Andy Pettitte didn't have to call a news conference and answer questions for nearly an hour about his use of human growth hormone or his entanglement in the illegal drug controversy surrounding his former teammate, Roger Clemens, and his former personal trainer, Brian McNamee. Give Pettitte, the New York Yankees veteran left-hander, credit for not hiding behind a blanket statement and some "no comments" now that the whole world knows he used hGH. Give him credit for accepting the spotlight and for a professional, well-delivered apology to his teammates, fans and family.

Monday's game started with a spectacular play for the New York Yankees, as Ichiro Suzuki practically did a lap around Matt Wieters to score the evening's first run. When Suzuki was asked about the play after the game, he could only laugh. But the next eight innings weren't so joyous for the Yankees as they tallied only one more run off Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen and three relievers in a 3-2 loss that evened the division series at 1-1. Asked if his team was happy with a split in Baltimore, shortstop Derek Jeter said: "You don't come here saying you want to split.

Probably not a day goes by in the spring and summer months that it's not uttered in a Baltimore bar or living room, in the stands or the broadcast booth at Camden Yards. An opposing pitcher sets the Orioles down in order or an opposing batter smashes a double to the gap and someone, somewhere declares it to whoever will listen: "Man, that guy just kills the Orioles." You'll likely hear it tonight, when the ultimate Orioles-killing pitcher takes the mound. This time it'll be true. No pitcher with more than 20 decisions against the Orioles has a better winning percentage in the modern franchise's history than Houston left-hander Andy Pettitte.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said it was a difficult decision to not start veteran designated hitter Jim Thome , the club's most experience postseason player, in Sunday's American League Division Series opener at Camden Yards againtst New York Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia . Thome did receive the start in Monday's Game 2 against veteran lefty Andy Pettitte . Thome, 42, is a career .214 hitter against the 40-year-old Pettitte in...

Johan Santana Twins pitcher He is 7-1 in 11 starts since losing his first three. Andy Pettitte Astros pitcher He has given up 17 home runs, equaling his total for all of last year.

Todd ZeileInning: SixthCount: 0-0Situation: None on, two outDistance: 393 feetLocation: Left fieldYankees pitcher: Andy PettitteScore: Yankees, 6-1Team total in series: 7Team total in postseason: 16Eddie MurrayInning: EighthCount: 3-1Situation: None on, none outDistance: 371 feetLocation: Left fieldYankees pitcher: Andy PettitteScore: Yankees, 6-2Team total in series: 8Team total in postseason: 17

The most earned runs allowed by a single pitcher in a nine-inning World Series game:Yr .. ..Pitcher .. .. .. ..Club .. .. ..ER'97 .. .Orel Hershiser .. .Cle. .. .. ...7'96 .. .Andy Pettitte .. ..NYY .. .. .. .7'92 .. .Jack Morris .. .. .Tor. .. .. ...7'87 .. .Danny Cox .. .. ...StL. .. .. ...7'10 .. .Mordecai Brown .. .ChC .. .. .. .7Pub Date: 10/19/97

HittingB. J. Surhoff, Orioles: 4-for-4, HR.Albert Belle, White Sox: HR (7 homers in 6 games).Paul Sorrento, Devil Rays: 4-for-4, HR, double.PitchingAndy Pettitte, Yankees: 9 innings, 1 run, 6 hits.Pub Date: 7/15/98

Who's hot Andy Pettitte of the Yankees has won six straight decisions. Who's not Carlos Delgado of the Blue Jays went 0-for-4 with three strike outs and was booed. Line of the day Garret Anderson, Angels LF AB ..... R ..... H ..... RBI..... HR 4 ......... 3 ..... 4 ......... 2 ........ 0

Rays@Yankees 7 p.m. [ESPN] The Yankees have a half-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the AL East and are five games up on the Tampa Bay Rays, who will send Andy Sonnanstine (4-5) against Andy Pettitte (left, 5-2) in the new Yankee Stadium.

New York continues to look like the team to beat in the American League. The Yankees have the best overall record in the majors, a major league-best 31-11 mark since the All-Star break and are a season-high 34 games over .500. They have a league-high six players with at least 20 homers, including first baseman Mark Teixeira (Mount St. Joseph), who has a team-high 32 homers and 101 RBIs and has emerged as one of the leading candidates for the AL Most Valuable Player award. The six players reaching the 20-homer plateau ties a franchise record and is one shy of a major league record shared by three teams, including the 1996 Orioles.

Rays@Yankees 7 p.m. [ESPN] The Yankees have a half-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the AL East and are five games up on the Tampa Bay Rays, who will send Andy Sonnanstine (4-5) against Andy Pettitte (left, 5-2) in the new Yankee Stadium.

WASHINGTON - -San Francisco Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum, the National League's reigning Cy Young Award winner and one of baseball's brightest young stars, had a front-row seat for Barry Bonds' historic home run chase in 2007. Now, Lincecum is again an up-close spectator for baseball history, as he and the rest of the sporting world await Randy Johnson's 300th career win. "Everybody wants to be around for this," said Lincecum, 24, who has 29 career wins. "It's a milestone, a big thing for him, for the team and something to be a part of. Obviously, it's something to witness, as awesome as it is."

Sun @Yankees, 8:05 p.m., ESPN Starters: Chris Waters (3-3, 4.75) vs. Yankees' Andy Pettitte (13-14, 4.57) It's only fitting that Pettitte is New York's starter in the last regular-season game at this Yankee Stadium. He is 24-6 with a 3.73 ERA against the Orioles. He is 94-42 at the stadium. Waters has never faced New York. JEFF ZREBIEC Mon Rays, 7:05 p.m., MASN Starters: Rays' Matt Garza (11-9, 3.66) vs. Brian Bass (3-4, 5.15) Tue Rays, 5:05 p.m., MASN Starters: Rays' James Shields (13-8, 3.61)

Chris Waters, whose shutout Tuesday night defied science, is scheduled to pitch the final game ever at the old Yankee Stadium on Sunday night. Against Andy Pettitte. It's not exactly a pitching matchup made in Monument Park, but - no matter what happens the rest of his career - Waters will have an amazing memory that no one will ever be able to take away from him. (For more, go to baltimoresun.com/schmuckblog)

He said it "We're basically being totally dominated by the Diamondbacks' pitching staff, and to wait until the 27th out with two two-run home runs on consecutive nights is pretty amazing." Chuck Knoblauch, Yankees left fielder He said it "We feel that Andy Pettitte is tough on everybody. But he is especially tough on left-handed hitters." Bob Brenly, before loading Diamondbacks' lineup with right-handed hitters with productive results.