Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte filed for free agency Sunday after repeatedly saying he hopes to return to the club next year.

Andy Pettitte has pitched some of the most important games at Yankee Stadium over the past 14 years, so it's fitting that he'll start for New York in what shapes up as the ballpark's grand finale.

Alex Rodriguez flopped all night when the New York Yankees needed a big hit. Tim Wakefield won in his return from the disabled list and the Boston Red Sox moved a step closer to squashing New York's playoff hopes, beating Andy Pettitte and the Yankees 7-3 Tuesday night.

Derek Jeter hit a two-run homer, Andy Pettitte pitched seven strong innings to snap a four-start winless streak and the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Wednesday night.

The David Ortiz-Manny Ramirez combo struck again — though for the first time in a while — shifting the focus from Ramirez's talk about being traded by the Red Sox and helping to end the Yankees' eight-game winning streak with a 9-2 victory Sunday night.

Andy Pettitte outpitched Oakland All-Star Justin Duchscherer, getting just enough run support from Jason Giambi's homer and a sacrifice fly by Alex Rodriguez to help the New York Yankees hold off the Athletics 2-1 on Sunday for a three-game sweep.

Derek Jeter delivered with his bat and glove, backing a determined effort by Andy Pettitte that led the New York Yankees to a much-needed, 5-0 win over the Tampa Bays Rays on Tuesday night.

Oliver Perez always manages to drive the New York Mets mad with his inconsistency — except when he faces the New York Yankees.

Andy Pettitte put the Yankees back on track, running his shutout streak to 19 innings and helping New York avoid a three-game sweep with a 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

Joba Chamberlain struck out a career-high nine, Alex Rodriguez delivered another key hit and the New York Yankees beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 Thursday for their seventh straight victory.

Hideki Matsui hit a grand slam on his 34th birthday to help Andy Pettitte move into a tie for fourth place on the New York Yankees career wins list with a 4-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night.

Matt Garza pitched seven scoreless innings and the surging Tampa Bay Rays beat nemesis Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees 7-1 for their fifth consecutive victory Monday night.

Andy Pettitte allowed three runs over seven innings and Hideki Matsui homered to lead the New York Yankees past the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-3, Tuesday night for a two-game sweep.

Andy Pettitte picked up his first victory and Alex Rodriguez and Melky Cabrera each homered and drove in two runs, helping the New York Yankees defeat the Kansas City Royals 6-1 Thursday night and avoid a series sweep.

Mike Mussina tied Bob Gibson on the career wins list by pitching six sharp innings, Bobby Abreu hit a two-run homer and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on Monday night.

Andy Pettitte will miss his first scheduled start of the regular season on April 2 against Toronto because of back spasms. New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi expects Pettitte will start the third or fourth game instead.

Andy Pettitte is trying to focus on baseball, not an investigation into whether Roger Clemens lied to Congress.

Andy Pettitte had finished 55 1/2 minutes of apologies, explaining why he used human growth hormone and why he said what he did about Roger Clemens. Derek Jeter walked over, and the captain wrapped his arms around the visibly relieved Pettitte.

Still back home in Houston, Andy Pettitte will throw a bullpen session Saturday to keep up with his teammates before he arrives at spring training.

Andy Pettitte felt caught in the middle between his friends Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee. In the end, Pettitte's conscience told him which side to choose.

Roger Clemens stuck out his famous right arm, the one that earned 354 major league wins, seven Cy Young Awards, $160 million, and pointed in the direction of his accuser. Without looking at Brian McNamee, Clemens told Congress, "I have strong disagreements with what this man says about me."



