Rays Chase Pettitte, Beat Yankees

Andy Pettitte got the warm reception he was hoping for when he made his first start after a rocky offseason. The rest of the day didn't go as planned. Jonny Gomes homered and drove in four runs against Pettitte to help the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 6-3 today. New York was without manager Joe Girardi, who missed his second straight game with the flu.

Pettitte was on a shorter-than-normal pitch count after he opened the season on the disabled list with back spasms. He lasted just five innings and was outpitched by Edwin Jackson, who held the powerful Yankees lineup in check. Troy Percival pitched the ninth for his first save. It was Pettitte's first regular-season start since he admitted using human growth hormone and accused Roger Clemens of also using HGH.