The New York Yankees turn to Andy Pettitte on short rest this evening, as they try once again to lock down their 27th World Series title when they play Game 6 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Yankee Stadium.

This is the first time the World Series has reached a sixth game since 2003 when the world was introduced to Josh Beckett, who tossed a five-hit shutout to eliminate the Yankees and clinch a World Series title for the Florida Marlins.

The Yankees are hopeful that Pettitte has a better outcome this time than he did six years ago when he toed the rubber against a 23-year-old Beckett. This time, he will be squaring off against 38-year-old Pedro Martinez in what very well could be the final start of both of their careers.

"For us both to still be pitching and then to be able to be pitching in the World Series, I'm sure he feels the same way I do," said Pettitte. "I just feel very blessed, very fortunate to be able to have this opportunity."

Surprisingly, these two have never met in a playoff game, and have not faced off anywhere since 2003.

"Two old goats out there doing the best they can and having fun with it," Martinez said.

Pettitte, the third straight Yankee starter to go on three days' rest, hasn't pitched on short rest since when he was with the Houston Astros in 2006, and has not pitched well in these situations overall. In 14 career starts on short rest, he has posted a 4-6 mark to go along with a 4.15 earned run average.

"Physically, for me it obviously is a little concern, just seeing how my body is going to feel on that short rest," Pettitte said. "But again, you prepare for this. I've been resting the last few days, and I feel like I've had the time off that I need, and mentally I'll be able to get in the place I need to. I mean, I'm hoping for that."

In five career postseason starts on three days' rest, Pettitte is 3-1 with a 2.80 ERA. In fact, two of the best outings of his career have come on short rest: Game 5 of the 1996 World Series, when he tossed 8 1/3 scoreless innings to outduel Atlanta's John Smoltz, and Game 2 of the 2003 World Series, when he allowed just an unearned run in 8 2/3 frames to defeat Florida.

Of course, Pettitte is not 24 years old like he was back in Atlanta 13 years ago. But he is still the winningest pitcher in postseason history. In fact, no pitcher has won more clinching games than the six he has under his belt.

Pettitte, who was on the hill in the Yanks' pennant-clinching victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALCS, picked up his major league record 17th playoff win in Game 3 of this series on Saturday, as he allowed four runs and five hits in six innings to improve to 3-0 this postseason to go along with a 3.24 ERA. He also helped his cause at the plate with an RBI single.

"What an opportunity," Pettitte said. "That's really the only way you can look at it. To be able to hopefully pitch the game that will bring a 27th world championship to this organization and this city, it's what we set out to do. I just feel very fortunate to have this opportunity, be on this team with a great group of guys, and hope I can throw a great game for us tomorrow to give us a chance to be able to win another championship."

Philadelphia, meanwhile, will rely on Martinez, who, of course, is no stranger to the big stage in the Bronx.

"For everybody that grows up in the Dominican and didn't have a rich life, it's a survival," Martinez said. "That's what we call it in the Dominican -- survival. And in baseball, I am a survivor. I'm someone who wasn't meant to be, and here I am on one big stage. I really thank God for the blessings of being here, because I was supposed to just survive and that's it. Here we are, guys! I have a lot of you paying attention to me right now. That's a great joy."

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