CLEVELAND – Joe Torre was right to compare Andy Pettitte’s performance last night with the left-hander’s start in Game 5 of the 1996 World Series, except there’s one significant difference: The Yankees won the game that night in Atlanta.
Pettitte’s gem in Game 2 of the ALDS at Jacobs Field was relegated to “nice try” status as the Indians rallied to win 2-1 on Travis Hafner’s RBI single off Luis Vizcaino in the 11th inning.
Pettitte departed in the seventh inning with the Yankees ahead 1-0 – the same score by which he beat the Braves in that 1996 classic.
“[Yesterday] was about as courageous a game as he’s ever had,” Torre said. “I said one run is going to have to be enough, it looks like because (Fausto) Carmona was so dominant. And I’ll be damned if it wasn’t almost good enough.”
Pettitte’s most brilliant pitching came in the sixth, after Grady Sizemore had tripled into the right-field corner leading off. Pettitte got Asdrubal Cabrera to hit back to the mound before striking out Hafner and Victor Martinez in succession to keep the Yankees’ lead at 1-0.
Jason Michaels had doubled leading off the third inning for the Indians, but Pettitte retired the next three hitters. The Yanks had taken their lead on Melky Cabrera’s homer in the top of the inning.
“I’ve never seen Andy pitch better,” Alex Rodriguez said.
Pettitte got some defensive help in the second when Cabrera threw out Jhonny Peralta attempting to score from second on Kenny Lofton’s single.
The final line for Pettitte was 61/3 innings pitched, seven hits allowed, five strikeouts, two walks.
“He was outstanding,” catcher Jorge Posada said. “He really battled, even after the leadoff triple.”
mpuma@nypost.com