Yankees even up series with Marlins at game apiece

NEW YORK -- The Face of October showed up and shut down the Florida Marlins, silencing all their talk about wreaking havoc in this World Series.\nWith his cap pulled down low and shadowing his dark eyes, Andy Pettitte pitched neatly into the ninth inning and drew the New York Yankees even with a 6-1 win in Game 2 Sunday night.\nThe Yankees came out slugging, a take-that response to a Marlins' team intent on using its speed to cause trouble.\nHideki Matsui delivered the big hit the Yankee Stadium crowd was waiting for, a three-run homer in the first inning on a 3-0 count. Slumping Alfonso Soriano later added a two-run drive.\nThose shots seemed to revive a Yankees team that looked sluggish in losing the opener 3-2. And they were plenty for Pettitte, who tied John Smoltz's postseason record of 13 victories.\nPettitte nearly recorded his first postseason shutout in 29 starts. Third baseman Aaron Boone's second error of the game, a two-out misplay in the ninth, set up Derrek Lee's RBI single.\nAt that point, manager Joe Torre pulled Pettitte, who waved his cap as he got a standing ovation from the 55,750 fans chanting his name.\nPettitte gave up six hits, struck out seven, walked one and did not permit a runner past second base until the last inning. Jose Contreras relieved and got the final out.\nPettitte is a familiar if not frightening figure on the mound, and once again his timing was impeccable.\nThe Yankees also lost the openers in their playoff series against Minnesota and Boston this year before Pettitte won Game 2.\nNow, the Series shifts to Pro Player Stadium for Game 3 Tuesday night. Marlins ace Josh Beckett will start against Mike Mussina.\nPettitte improved to 13-7 lifetime in the postseason, and never let the Marlins threaten. Catcher Jorge Posada threw out Luis Castillo trying to steal in the first inning, and the Yankees got a lucky break when a ball that deflected off Miguel Cabrera's leg was called fair and turned into a double play.\nNot that the Yankees needed much help to beat Mark Redman on this night. Pettitte's complete game also allowed New York to give ace closer Mariano Rivera another day of rest.\nNick Johnson helped out with three hits for the Yankees. He may not get to play again for a bit, as the Yankees will lose the designated hitter at Miami, with Jason Giambi likely to move back to first base.\nBoone is certainly learning how fast fortunes change in the Bronx -- he was hailed as a hero after his 11th-inning homer won Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, but was criticized for failing to throw home in a key spot Saturday night.\nMatsui's homer came after Giambi was hit by a pitch with two outs and Bernie Williams singled.\nMatsui became the first Japanese player to homer in a World Series, getting the green light on the 3-0 count and hitting a no-doubt drive over the wall in center field. The crowd kept cheering until he came out for a curtain call.