When Christmas comes around this year, in addition to remembering his teammates, Andy Pettitte should also send along something to the

Phillies’ bullpen.

“Any time you pitch as badly as I did and don’t get a loss, it takes a lot of the sting out,” Pettitte said after the Yankees roared back against Philadelphia to win 9-8 yesterday at the Stadium in 10 innings. “That was as bad an outing as you can have and to have them bail me out is great.”

The lefty was referring to his teammates who overcame a five-run ninth inning deficit and another two-run hole in the 10th – but he could just as easily been talking about the Phillies’ dreadful pen.

Both saved Pettitte after he lasted just 2 2/3 innings and was smacked for nine hits and five runs.

“Andy was down the middle,” Joe Torre said. “The big problem is that it’s been a week since he pitched. That rest hurts him more than anyone. He tries to overthrow and gets in trouble.”

Yesterday, he got in trouble quickly, allowing a run on two hits and a walk in the first inning. Then he collapsed in the third, when he gave up five straight singles – none cheap. That string snapped only when Doug Glanville scorched a sacrifice fly to center, making it a 5-0 game and putting an end to Pettitte’s afternoon.

But it could have been worse. He could have given up all those runs against a team that had a relief corps that didn’t appear to be on the Yankee payroll.

Still, Pettitte was disturbed. The answer to the pitcher’s problem? Never give him time off.

Pettitte pitched well on three days’ rest on the last game prior to the All-Star break, holding the Mets to two runs in 6 1/3 innings July 9. The gap between starts eliminated the effectiveness of his cut fastball which Pettitte needs to keep down in order to succeed.

“Everything was up,” Pettitte said. “I kept trying to adjust and get things down, because I know I can’t get people out like how I was pitching.”

And although he attempted to stay on schedule between starts, it wasn’t the same as throwing in a game.

“I’m definitely better when I’m tired,” Pettitte said. “But it’s hard to get there right then [during the break]. I couldn’t wear myself out like I needed to. I just didn’t feel good.”

That’s true, but he undoubtedly felt better than the Phillie relievers.