TORONTO — Age has removed some of the fangs from Andy Pettitte’s cutter and the speed guns don’t climb as high when he pitches.
Yet, there is one main ingredient belonging to Pettitte the calendar hasn’t been able to nibble away.
Last night at Rogers Centre, the veteran lefty was working the sixth inning against the Blue Jays with a seven-run cushion and had two outs.
Yet, when Melky Cabrera singled to left, Pettitte was aggravated to the point he threw up his arms in disgust.
“I fell behind and that was a mental letdown,’’ said Pettitte, who followed that by watching Jose Bautista reach the second deck of seats in center for a two-run home run. “He was taking the first pitch there and I know that. Those are the things you want to continue to work on and improve.’’
Pitching for the first time since April 9 due to back spasms and a very conservative medical staff, Pettitte helped the Yankees grab a 9-4 win in front of 40,028.
Pettitte’s third victory in as many starts was aided by Travis Hafner, Lyle Overbay and Vernon Wells homering and Robinson Cano going 3-for-5 and driving in a run.
“Andy is remarkable,’’ said Wells,, who was the target of abuse all night long from the fans he played for as a Blue Jay. “I have seen him for a long time and he is the same he was 10, 12 years ago. He is a pleasure to watch.’’
The win was the Yankees’ eighth in 10 games.
After being too hyped up in the first inning, when he gave up a leadoff triple to Rajai Davis and traded an out for a run when Cabrera grounded out, Pettitte relaxed.
When he left with one out in the eighth, he had faced just one batter — Cabrera in the first — with a runner in scoring position.
“It felt like I hadn’t pitched all year,’’ Pettitte said of the home first that ended when he snagged Edwin Encarnacion’s liner and turned it into a double play. “You try and control your emotions, but it took me a few innings to settle in.’’
For a 40-year-old trying to keep the gremlins out of his back, Pettitte was tested. In addition to Encarnacion’s liner, Pettitte fielded Maicer Izturis’ one-hopper and turned it into a 1-6-3 double play that completed the fifth.
“I felt strong tonight,’’ said Pettitte, who is 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA after allowing three runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings. “It was good to make plays and test [the back] out.’’
It was also good the Yankees scored nine runs. In Pettitte’s three starts, the Yankees have dented the plate 27 times.
Watching them spank Brandon Morrow was strange since the right-hander started the game with a 5-2 ledger and a 3.68 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) against the Yankees, who hadn’t scored a run in 16 consecutive innings off Morrow.
Hafner and Wells drove in runs in the first inning when the Yankees erased a 1-0 deficit. Hafner homered in the third and center fielder Colby Rasmus’ throwing error led to two more unearned runs. Overbay homered off Morrow in the sixth and Wells homered in the seventh off Brett Cecil.
Any conversation involving Pettitte has to include health. In the past two seasons he played (he was retired in 2011), Pettitte has missed long stretches due to injuries.
This year, a back problem surfaced after two starts, so his body will be a constant topic of discussion.
Yet, he is 3-0 with a skinny ERA.
“Hopefully we can keep everybody on the staff healthy and keep pitching the way we are and we will be fine,’’ Pettitte said.
Especially him.