MLB

PETT SANCTUARY

TAMPA – Jason Giambi knows all about Andy Pettitte’s quest to find a sanctuary from the Roger Clemens saga, his human growth hormone use and testifying against his friend.

“That’s the only way,” Giambi said of Pettitte taking the mound and discovering a place where those toxic issues can’t get to him. “Unfortunately the Big G paved the way for him.”

After admitting steroid use during the BALCO grand jury hearings, Giambi discovered the playing field was the only place he could go to escape. Now, after Pettitte admitted HGH use, Giambi sees history repeating itself.

“He is doing good,” Giambi said of the left-hander, who made his spring debut yesterday with a two-inning stint in a 7-7 tie against the Phillies at Legends Field.

Pettitte, who used a slide step to keep runners close on the bases for the first time ever, wasn’t pleased with his opening inning but was gushing about the second.

“I didn’t feel good in the first, it was rust, but the second was a lot better,” said Pettitte, who was cordially received by the fans. “The first inning was rough. I was just trying to locate my fastball. My mechanics were off, but in the second my curveball got me into a rhythm.”

Pettitte worked on the slide step during the winter after Brian Roberts and Corey Patterson of Baltimore caused him headaches while on second base last year. He used it twice yesterday and said he will take it into the season.

As for his recent past – the Mitchell Report, an admission to using HGH, his deposition that hurt Clemens and the possibility of more court time if Clemens is tried for perjury – serving as a distraction, Pettitte doesn’t see it.

“I haven’t paid a whole lot of attention so I don’t know how to answer that,” Pettitte said. “I can’t wait for the day when I don’t have to answer any more questions. I have a job and I can’t waste any more emotions on that deal.

“I don’t foresee it being a problem. That will be everybody else’s opinion. If I struggle, that will not be an excuse.”

george.king@nypost.com