• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Pettitte, Yankees struggle in loss to Devil Rays

Apr 6, 2007 - 5:26 AM BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Andy Pettitte's return to pinstripes was every bit as wretched as the conditions.

Pettitte managed only four innings in his New York Yankees' debut and rookie Elijah Dukes homered for the second straight game as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays posted a 7-6 victory.

Pettitte, who signed a one-year contact in the offseason to return to the Yankees after a three-year absence, gave up four runs - two earned - and six hits with three walks and two strikeouts but did not figure in the decision.

"I've pitched in plenty worse conditions," Pettitte said. "In the first inning, I came out and felt good. I felt my stuff was together, just like I wanted. The big thing was I don't know whether I got a swing and a miss out of my cutter. I thought I threw a good number of fastballs in there, and usually when I do that, I am going to get some swings off of my cutter."

It was the first time the two-time All-Star pitched in Yankee Stadium since the 2003 World Series, when the Florida Marlins captured the championship behind a dazzling effort by MVP Josh Beckett.

On a windy, 38-degree night with light snow flurries occasionally blowing around, the Yankees' staff was undone by three wild pitches, three errors and a passed ball. It continued a sloppy start to the season for the Yankees, who have committed six errors in two games, including three by Derek Jeter.

"We played sloppy, but they did not play sloppy," Jeter said. "The weather was the same for both teams."

With the game tied, 4-4, in the sixth, Dukes hit a solo blast off Scott Proctor to ignite a two-run sixth.

"I was thinking double off the bat; it was a fastball in," Dukes said. "In the eighth inning, when the snow came, I was so happy out there. I forgot how cold it was. It was my first time ever being in the snow."

Hideki Matsui later retied the score at 6-6 with a two-run single in the seventh off reliever Ruddy Lugo (1-0), who allowed a run and two hits with a walk in two-thirds of a inning.

Despite the loss of the lead, Tampa Bay pulled back ahead right away in the eighth when Akinori Iwamura ripped a leadoff double and later scored on a wild pitch by Luis Vizcaino (1-1).

"I'm pleased and proud of our guys," Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Pettitte pitched, which was a big boost for them. It's very nice to come out the way we did under the circumstances and beat a pretty good pitcher."

Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez had the opportunity to deliver with the bases loaded and two outs at the bottom of the frame, but popped out to second to end the threat. Rodriguez finished 1-for-5 with six runners left on base.

"It was a good pitch to hit," Rodriguez said. "I could have hit the ball hard. A base hit there brings (Mariano Rivera) into the game and probably wins it."

Tampa Bay closer Al Reyes pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his first save of the season.