NEW YORK — On a day that celebrated Yankees history, Andy Pettitte managed to create a new moment for the highlight reels — without throwing a single pitch.
The five-time World Series champion, on hand for Old-Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, was in the Yankees’ radio booth during the bottom of the eighth inning of a tight game against the Houston Astros. As play-by-play voice Dave Sims and color commentator Suzyn Waldman looked on, Pettitte spoke up.
“We need a run here,” Pettitte said.
Seconds later, Trent Grisham answered, blasting a go-ahead home run that brought the crowd to its feet.
“There it is right there,” an astonished Sims responded. “Andy Pettitte, everybody.”
Pettitte smiled as the noise echoed around the stadium. “I mean, that’s what you need,” he said. “You need a big hit. You need a big pitch. You need somebody to make a big play to kind of get this thing going in the other direction, and maybe that’s it right there.”
A timely spark for struggling Yankees
The Yankees entered the day in a tailspin, having gone 19-30 over their previous 49 games. They had dropped to third place in the American League East and were clinging to a one-game lead for the final AL Wild Card spot.
Pettitte, who works part-time with the Yankees as a pitching coach, has seen the struggles up close.
“I spend a lot of time with these guys,” he said. “I feel like every one of these guys are my kids. I hurt for them. I hurt so bad. I’ve got several kids that are older than all these guys already.”
For the veteran left-hander, Grisham’s eighth-inning blast was more than just a run on the scoreboard.
“Just to switch the momentum, and instead of like, here we go again, it’s like, okay — it’s baseball, you go through ruts, and we’re going to get it done,” Pettitte said.
Pettitte’s wish becomes reality
Pettitte’s career was built on delivering in big moments. He made more postseason starts than any pitcher in MLB history and was often the Yankees’ go-to arm in elimination games. On Saturday, though, he proved he could still influence the game from the broadcast booth.
“We need a run here. We need a run right here,” Pettitte repeated just before Grisham swung. The timing could not have been more perfect. The ball sailed into the seats, the fans erupted, and Pettitte let out a laugh. “How about that,” he said as the Bronx crowd roared in approval.
It wasn’t Babe Ruth calling his shot, but it carried the same sense of serendipity.
Confidence from a champion
Since mid-June, the Yankees’ offense and defense have both been inconsistent. Costly errors and missed opportunities have fueled their slide, raising concerns about whether they can hold their playoff position.
Pettitte, however, believes that one moment can spark a turnaround.
“You can feel it with these guys,” he said. “They’ve been battling. Sometimes it just takes one moment to flip things. I think something like that can get this team going.”
Given his track record — 219 of his 256 career wins came in pinstripes, along with those five championships — Yankees fans tend to take Pettitte’s optimism seriously.
A win with meaning
The Yankees went on to hold off the Astros for a much-needed victory. It was a small step in a challenging stretch, but the way it happened made it feel bigger.
Grisham’s homer was his latest in a string of clutch moments since joining the team, and it came with an extra layer of magic thanks to Pettitte’s perfectly timed comment. For a team in search of momentum, it was the kind of shared moment that can boost morale in the clubhouse and in the stands.
“Maybe Saturday’s win will get them going back in the right direction,” Pettitte said after the game, echoing what many fans were hoping as they left the stadium.
Remember this one
If the Yankees find their footing and make a run in the final stretch of the season, Saturday’s game may be remembered as a turning point. The image of Pettitte calling for a run and Grisham delivering almost instantly will stick with those who witnessed it live or heard it on the radio.
It was a reminder that in baseball, timing is everything — and sometimes, the game answers just when you ask.
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