ALTOONA, Pa. – The biggest impact on the Yankees’ chances to defend their World Series title happened far away from their game against the Rays for AL East supremacy. Instead, it was in rural Pennsylvania with Double-A Trenton, where Andy Pettitte took the final step toward returning to the starting rotation after a two month absence due to a groin injury.
In his second rehab start for the Thunder, Pettitte, who has been out since July 18 with a groin injury, allowed two runs in five innings in the first game of the Eastern League’s Championship Series. Before the game, Pettitte told The Post that, barring any setbacks, he would be in the Yankees rotation Sunday in Baltimore.
After throwing 51 pitches in his first start for Trenton last Thursday, Pettitte’s pitch count was increased to 75 last night. He wound up throwing 67 over his five innings, giving up two runs on six hits, striking out four and walking two. After being pulled, Pettitte went down to the bullpen and threw a bullpen session during the bottom of the sixth inning to reach his 75-pitch limit.
Pettitte gave up a massive home run to leadoff hitter Chase d’Arnaud, who deposited a 1-2 pitch over the 385-foot sign in left-center field. But he settled down after that, retiring the next seven hitters in a row.
He ran into more trouble in the third, giving up another run after two hits, a walk and a wild pitch.
After a perfect fourth, Pettitte worked out of a major jam in the fifth. After loading the bases with no one out, he managed to escape without giving up a run after forcing a double play and striking out Matt Hague.
Pettitte’s return will be a welcome sight for Joe Girardi, who has seen his starting rotation fall apart since Pettitte went on the shelf July 18. In his absence, the Yankees have mixed and matched Sergio Mitre, Dustin Moseley, Javier Vazquez and rookie Ivan Nova in an attempt to replace him.
But none of them could truly replace the veteran left-hander, who is 11-2 with a 2.88 ERA in 18 starts this season.
Vazquez will almost certainly be the pitcher making room for Pettitte in the rotation, after giving up nine runs in 9.2 innings in his two starts since rejoining the rotation. With an off-day tomorrow, the Yankees will likely send A.J. Burnett to the mound Friday in Baltimore, followed by CC Sabathia and Pettitte.
tbontemps@nypost.com
