By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Baltimore, MD

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi has tapped left-hander Andy Pettitte, the winningest pitcher in postseason history, to start Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles Monday.

Pettitte, who leads baseball's all-time list with 19 postseason victories, will face rookie Wei-Yin Chen, who is 1-2 with a 5.25 ERA in four starts against the Yankees in the regular season.

Pettitte (5-4) has a career 27-6 with 2.52 ERA against the Orioles. At Camden Yards, the veteran hurler has a 16-4 mark and a 4.11 ERA.

Initially scheduled to pitch in Game 2, Hiroki Kuroda's start has been moved to Wednesday's Game 3 to give him additional time to rest after logging 219 2/3 innings in the regular season, the highest in his four-year career.

Kuroda will face another Orioles rookie starter Miguel Gonzalez, who is 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA in two career starts at Yankee Stadium.

"We just felt the extra rest would probably help (Kuroda)," Girardi said. "And we don't want Andy to go too long without throwing. So it's kind of those two factors."

Kuroda (16-11) was outstanding at home with an 11-6 record and 2.72 ERA but he was 5-5 on the road with 4.23 ERA. He was 1-1 against the Orioles this season with a 2.03 ERA but both games were played at Yankees Stadium.

Pettitte ended his one-year retirement after the 2010 season and returned in May, compiling a 5-4 record and a 2.87 ERA in 12 starts. His season was interrupted for 11 weeks after he suffered a broken left ankle from a comebacker June 27.

He returned Sept. 19 and won two of his final three regular-season starts, allowing just three earned runs in 16 2/3 innings. Pettitte allowed those three runs in the Yankees loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

 

 

Yanks Skipper Girardi Taps Pettitte to Start Game 2 vs Orioles