BOSTON — Andy Pettitte is no longer just a hopeful wish to give the Yankees rotation a boost.
The 39-year-old un-retired lefty is scheduled to start for Double-A Trenton on Wednesday in New Jersey. It will be Pettitte’s fourth minor league outing, and he likely will throw 80 to 85 pitches. After that the Yankees likely would want Pettitte to come close to the 100-pitch mark in his final two minor league games.
“It’s getting closer to reality now,’’ Girardi said of Pettitte’s re-entry into the Yankees’ rotation after sitting out last season. “Sixty-eight pitches [Friday in an extended spring training game], you are getting closer. Andy was a guy who was right around 100 for us anyway.
“That’s realistic to look at three more minor league starts and make a real evaluation of where he is at,’’ said Girardi, who will have to remove somebody from the rotation to make room for Pettitte.
If Pettitte stays on an every-fifth-day plan after Wednesday, he would start on April 30 and May 5. Barring health setbacks, that would put him in position to start for the Yankees on May 10 against the Rays at Yankee Stadium.
“I think you have to get to 85 to 90 pitches and see how he bounces back,’’ Girardi said. “Can he run off four starts in a row on normal rest? I believe he can.’’
Among the current Yankees starters, Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia are most in danger of being bumped to the bullpen when Pettitte comes back.
Garcia didn’t help himself Saturday when he was knocked out in the second inning against the Red Sox in a game the Yankees rallied from 9-0 down to win,15-9.
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With Curtis Granderson hitting three homers on Thursday, Eric Chavez two on Friday and Mark Teixeira two Saturday, it was the first time since 1961 the Yankees have had three straight games with a player hitting multiple homers.
The Yankees scored at least seven runs in consecutive innings (seventh and eighth) for the second time. In 2000, they scored nine in the eighth and seven in the ninth against the Red Sox in a 22-1 win at Fenway Park.
The hole that was in the Green Monster scoreboard Friday to enable a television camera to shoot was covered up for yesterday’s game.
Girardi protested to the umpires during Friday’s 6-2 win and was hoping that the situation would be rectified yesterday. Girardi was told Friday that if a ball got into the hole, it would be a ground-rule double.
“I would hate to lose a game because a ball bounced into [the hole],’’ Girardi said.
After the wild victory, Girardi said, “If [the ball] was going to go in there it was today.’’
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Brett Gardner said his strained right elbow was feeling better, but four days after going on the disabled list he was not ready to start testing it by swinging a bat.
Girardi continued to platoon in left with Gardner out. Right-handed-hitting Andruw Jones was in left against Red Sox lefty Felix Doubrant.
He went 0-for-3, walked once and fanned twice. Raul Ibanez hit for Jones in the eighth. It was Jones’ fifth start in left and sixth overall in the outfield.
Girardi used Derek Jeter as the designated hitter and started Eduardo Nunez at short. It was the third DH gig for Jeter and Nunez’s third start at short. Each had three hits.
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Sunday night’s game is in jeopardy of being rained out.
“The forecast is not real positive,’’ Girardi said. “It looks like we will see a lot of rain.’’
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The Red Sox acquired center fielder Marlon Byrd from the Cubs in exchange for right-hander Michael Bowden and a player to be named.
Opening Day center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury is sidelined by a partially dislocated right shoulder. Byrd, an All-Star in 2010, is off to a 3-for-43 start.