Only relief is Carl's healthy

When Carl Pavano utters a phrase like, "I felt a little funky out there," in a postgame interview session, that's usually time for Yankee executives to wince and team trainers to reach for their medical kits. But on a windy day that was unusual in other ways, nothing strange happened to the fragile Pavano, who wasn't brilliant against the Phillies but wasn't awful, injured or absent, either, which is progress of sorts in his attempt to revive his career.

Pavano allowed four hits and three runs (two earned) in three innings and took the loss as the Yankees fell, 3-2. Andy Pettitte started the game and threw five scoreless innings, giving up only two hits while striking out four in a performance Joe Torre called "as economical as you can get." Continue