"Old goats" set for Game Six duel

By Larry Fine

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Longtime adversaries Andy Pettitte and Pedro Martinez will turn back the clock for a World Series pitching duel in Wednesday's Game Six between the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies.

With the best-of-seven series poised at 3-2 in the Yankees' favor, the 38-year-old Martinez will pitch to keep the Phillies alive and send the Fall Classic to a Game Seven.

Pettitte, a year younger that Martinez, wants to nail down the Yankees' 27th Fall Classic crown.

"Just two old goats out there doing the best they can and having fun with it," Philadelphia starter Martinez, a three-times Cy Young winner, told reporters on Tuesday.

Martinez and Pettitte, who owns a record 17 career postseason wins, do not throw as hard as they used to but depend on pitching savvy, variety and placement to succeed.

"Me and Derek (Jeter) were talking about it in the clubhouse last night, just how strange is this, after all the battles with him being in Boston," left-hander Pettitte said, referring to Martinez's seven seasons with the Red Sox.

"What you see is a combination of experience and instinct," Martinez said. "It's just instinct, surviving."

Survival is the name of Game Six for the Phillies, who fought off elimination in Philadelphia on Monday with an 8-6 victory.