An 8-6 Yankees comeback couldn’t sink the perfectionist in Pettitte

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You would think Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte would be relieved sitting in the dugout after the Yankees’ 8-6 win in 10 innings against the Dodgers.

He pitched five innings, gave up six hits and five runs before his teammates came thundering back to score six runs in the final two innings.

Pettitte was excited about the win and the dramatic fashion in which it came.

Still, he harped on his own performance,. He gave up three runs in the third inning and two more in the fourth, including a solo home run by Ronnie Belliard.

“I just felt like I gave the game to them,” he said. “With the bad throws that I made. I gave them three runs in that inning and that was hard to swallow.”

Pettitte was asked whether he’d take away the great come-from-behind win or kick himself after that third inning. You can guess his response.

“As a startiing pitcher, I want to go seven to eight innings,” he said. “I’m kicking myself. I‘m kicking myself on the throws and then on a few pitch selections that I had.”

But you can only kick yourself for so long. Pettitte was asked other questions and continued to reflect on the great performance of his teammates.

“What a great win for us,” he said. “Great comeback.”

-- DeAntae Prince