(Sports Network) - Andy Pettitte faces the Philadelphia Phillies for the first time since clinching the New York Yankees' 27th World Series title when the Bronx Bombers play the rubber match of their three-game set with the two-time defending National League champions tonight at Yankee Stadium.
Pettitte, who turned 38 on Tuesday, beat the Phils twice in last year's Fall Classic and has carried that success into this season, as he is off to the best start of his career by going 8-1 with a 2.46 earned run average.
The left-hander joined Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing (231) as the only pitchers to win 200 games as a Yankee in his last start Friday against Houston, which managed two earned runs and four hits off him in 7 1/3 innings.
"It's special. There's not a lot of guys that have won that many games as a Yankee," Pettitte said. "So it's a good thing."
Pettitte is 2-2 lifetime with a 3.67 ERA in seven regular-season starts against the Phils.
While Pettitte will be taking center stage in Thursday's finale, it was another aging lefty who stole the show on Wednesday, as Jamie Moyer threw eight strong innings to help Philadelphia to 6-3 win.
Exactly 24 years to the day since his major-league debut, Moyer (7-6) limited the potent Yankees' offense to just three hits and two runs. He also walked a batter and struck out five.
At 47 years, 155 days old, Moyer became the oldest pitcher ever to win against the Yankees.
"I think we stuck with a pretty good game plan that we had, and I was able to make consistent pitches and good pitches, and we scored enough runs," said Moyer, who couldn't get out of the second inning in his last start on Friday in Boston. "It's nice to have run support, but as a pitcher you have to go out and do your job."
Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth each hit solo home runs while Shane Victorino added a three-run triple for the Phillies, who won for just the second time in their last six tries.
Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada each hit solo home runs for the Yankees, who lost for the first time in 10 home games and fell for only the second time in their last nine overall contests.
New York starter A.J. Burnett (6-5) was tagged for six runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts in just 3 1/3 innings of work.
"Everything was up, my sinker was off the plate, but I think my hook feeds off that too," Burnett said. "When I throw that for strikes, I have the same arm slot as my fastball. I was throwing every pitch at every different angle, and I didn't feel good at all."
Philadelphia will turn to righty Kyle Kendrick tonight as he tries to bounce back from an awful outing in his last start, which took place June 8 against the Florida Marlins. Kendrick gave up six runs in five innings of that one, but was bailed out by his offense and did not get a decision in his team's 10-8 win.
Kendrick, who is 3-2 with a 4.80 ERA on the year, pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Moyer on Friday. This will be his first-ever appearance against the Yankees.
The Phillies took two of three at Yankee Stadium during interleague play last season, but are just 3-5 versus the AL this season. New York is 5-3 against the Senior Circuit this season.