Yankees' Pettitte ends career in Houston

Andy Pettitte's career is set to come to an end in the only other city he has ever called home as a Major League pitcher.

The New York Yankee veteran closes the curtains on Saturday night when he toes the rubber for the second contest of a three-game series with the hosting Houston Astros.

The 41-year-old Pettitte is calling it a career after this season, his 18th in the majors. He has won 255 games and pitched to a 3.86 earned run average during that time, which includes a three-year stay with Houston from 2004-06. He went 37-26 with a 3.38 ERA in 84 games with the Astros in between his lengthy stints with the Yankees.

Pettitte made his final Bronx start on Sunday and finished strong, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out six over seven innings. Unfortunately, he took a 2-1 defeat to remain winless since Aug. 27.

The lefty did make a final curtain call appearance in New York on Thursday. He first went to the mound with Derek Jeter to take Mariano Rivera from the game in the legendary closer's final Yankee Stadium appearance on Thursday and was later summoned to the field for one more ovation from the fans prior to the bottom of the ninth inning.

"I don't need anything else," Pettitte told New York's website. "I just feel so fortunate to have been a part of this weekend and the last few days here. It's been incredible."

The Astros did pay tribute to Pettitte in Friday's opener, presenting him with a framed jersey from his 2004 season with the club in a quick ceremony in the fifth inning.

Pettitte is 10-11 with a 3.88 earned run average in 29 starts this season and lost his lone previous start versus the Astros in 2013 back in April. He allowed seven runs over 4 1/3 innings in a home setback.

The Astros counter Pettitte with the 25-year-old Paul Clemens, who makes the 35th appearance of his first Major League season.

Clemens made 30 bullpen appearances before joining the rotation in late August. He is 0-2 with a 4.22 ERA as a starter and is coming off a 4-1 loss at Cleveland on Saturday. The right-hander was charged with four runs on eight hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings.

Clemens, who has not logged a victory since June 12, faced the Yankees in relief on May 1 and took a loss, allowing a run over 1 1/3 innings.

Houston has set a franchise record with 109 losses this season and saw its club-worst losing streak extended to 13 straight games with Friday's 3-2 defeat.

New York did all of its damage during the fourth inning. Mark Reynolds had an RBI single and also scored on David Adams' two-run double in the frame as the Yankees snapped a four-game slide.

Adam Warren, making just his third big league start, held Houston scoreless over five innings of two-hit, one-walk ball to pick up the win.

"I think I've learned and kind of proved to myself that I can pitch at this level," Warren said. "I just wanted to go out there and finish strong and end on a good note."

Brett Wallace plated both Houston runs with a pinch-hit double in the seventh.

Brett Oberholtzer was charged for all three runs -- two earned -- on five hits and one walk over 5 1/3 frames to absorb the loss.

"He kind of ran to the end of his tank," Astros manager Bo Porter said of his starter. "He was a little bit gassed there."

The Yankees are 11-2 all-time against Houston and took two of three in New York versus the Astros from April 29-May 1.