The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Andy Pettitte has become the New York Yankees' great equalizer. Three times this season, New York has lost the opener of a postseason series. Three times, Pettitte has gotten the Yankees even.

Pettitte stopped the Florida Marlins cold Sunday. He allowed six hits, coming within one out of a shutout, leading New York to a 6-1 win that tied the World Series one game apiece.

He struggled in the first inning, going to 3-2 counts on his first three batters, but after that, he was in control.

"I was missing a little bit, kind of fighting myself a little bit trying to figure out what kind of game I wanted to pitch on three days' rest," he said.

Teammate Roger Clemens, Pettitte's Texas neighbor and mentor, had given him some advice.

"I was inside the clubhouse before the game talking to Rog' a little bit," Pettitte said. "He said, 'This is what we worked all year for. You got to go out strong like a horse tonight.' "

The Yankees certainly rode him.

"For people to say 'There is no pressure' or 'This guy doesn't feel pressure,' I don't believe it," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "It's a matter of how you handle it."

Pettitte, who gave up only two infield hits in the first six innings, didn't allow a runner past second base until Derrek Lee's RBI single with two outs in the ninth - an unearned run because it followed Aaron Boone's second error of the night.

Pettitte struck out seven and walked one in his 13th postseason victory, tying John Smoltz's career record, and he improved to 3-0 in four starts during this year's playoffs and World Series.

Because the Yankees used their three regular starting pitchers as relievers in Game 7 against the Boston Red Sox, Pettitte had to pitch on short rest. Wednesday, he left with a 6-4 lead after five innings and 92 pitches in Game 6, but Jose Contreras failed to hold the lead.

This time, Torre took him out after Lee's single, bringing in Contreras for the final out. Pettitte sprinted to the dugout, took off his cap and waved it to the crowd.

Pettitte seems to have a low profile on the Yankees' stellar pitching staff. Clemens has all the awards, a record six Cy Youngs. Mike Mussina got the big free agent contract, and David Wells gets a lot of attention by being outlandish.

But Pettitte gets wins when his team needs them the most.

He won his last six regular-season starts that followed Yankees losses, and now he's won three more when it counts most.

If either team sweeps the three games in Miami, Sunday night could wind up as Pettitte's last in pinstripes - he's eligible for free agency after the Series.

Torre learned to trust Pettitte in another playoff game, when he pitched 8 1/3 innings at Atlanta for a 1-0 Game 5 win in the 1996 Series.

"Andy has been under the radar in the eight years I've been here," Torre said. "There's always been someone that's been more high profile than Andy. He sort of likes it that way."