Andy Pettitte Beats Marlins With His Arm & His Bat

YANKEES 5

MARLINS 1

This win won't help Yankee fans forget Jorge Posada's ground out to then Florida Marlins ace Josh Beckett at the end of Game Six of the 2003 World Series, which the Marlins won at the old Yankee Stadium, but this one sure felt good.

With the Yankees stumbling and bumbling for more than a week, they got a much needed solid performance from ole' reliable Andy Pettitte. Pettitte made his first start at Dolphins Stadium since that very same World Series, and he was brilliant. Seven innings of three hit ball, walking none and striking out seven. He held the Marlins powerful hitters: Dan Uggla, Jeremy Hermida, Hanley Ramirez and Jorge Cantu to a combined 2 for 14, which equates to a .143 batting average.

The Yankees jumped all over Florida starter Sean White. Jorge Posada's single to right in the first inning brought home Derek Jeter to give the Bombers a 1-0 lead.

In the second, the Yankees broke it open. Angel Berroa, filling in for the struggling Alex Rodriguez at third base, doubled to the center field gap bringing in Robinson Cano to make it 2-0. Then, Pettitte added to his brilliant day's work by shocking everyone in the park, lining a double to left to drive in Berroa to make it 3-0.

Pettitte is a career .133 hitter and was a decent hitter during his renaissance period with the Houston Astros. In 2006 with Houston, Pettitte had 12 hits in 62 at bats with a home run and five RBIs. Tonight's RBI was Pettitte's 13th of his career. Pettitte's career stats.

The win gets the Yankees back to 10 games over .500 at 39-29. Box Score.