Nov. 4--NEW YORK -- It took Johnny Damon 10 seasons to make it to his first World Series.

It has taken him five additional seasons to get back.

The question, then, was obvious: What's the difference between playing in the 2004 Series with the Red Sox and the 2009 Series with the Yankees?

"When I was with Boston, everybody expected us to lose," Damon said before yesterday's Yankee Stadium workout in preparation for tonight's Game 6 showdown against the Philadelphia Phillies. "That was kind of the way people (in Boston) looked at that team for so many years. We just went out and we played and we had fun. And we won.

"I think everyone here in New York, people expect us to be great all the time, and hopefully we can be great in Game 6."

Tonight's game will again pit two key cogs of the Sox' 2004 championship team against each other, as Damon will be squaring off against Phillies starter Pedro Martinez, who had his greatest seasons in Boston.

Damon is no idiot: He recognizes that most, if not all, Sox fans will be rooting for Martinez.

"It doesn't matter," Damon said. "Of course, Pedro's happy to get another start against us here."

Martinez started for the Phillies in Game 2 at Yankee Stadium, tossing six solid innings in a 3-1 loss.

Pettitte a go

To nobody's surprise, Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced that veteran lefty Andy Pettitte will start for the Bombers tonight on three days' rest.

Girardi's decision was simple. He said he asked Pettitte, "How do you feel?" And the pitcher replied that he felt great.

"It doesn't take more than that," Girardi said. "This is something that we talked about, and we're still very comfortable doing it, and he's our guy (tonight)."

Pettitte has not pitched on three days' rest since 2006. His lifetime record on three days is a bland 4-6 with a 4.15 ERA. He said, "I really don't think there's that big of a difference," but he added "you probably fatigue a little bit quicker than you normally would."cw0

Victorino iffy

Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino, who was hit on the finger as he pulled back a bunt attempt and eventually had to leave Game 5 Monday night in Philadelphia, was termed "day-to-day" by manager Charlie Manuel.

"When he first comes in (today) I'll go talk to him and then talk to our trainer," Manuel said. "I'll be there when they get there."

If Victorino can't play, Ben Francisco will get the start in center. . . .

Manuel said Joe Blanton, the Phillies' Game 4 starter, is available to work in relief tonight.

"Maybe two, three innings," the manager said. "Depends on how many pitches he throws."

Home advantage

Nick Swisher on why the Yankees are so tough to beat at the new Yankee Stadium: "Maybe it's the good spirits from the old park coming over here. Maybe it's the fans. Maybe it's the setup of the ballpark. Maybe it's just everything that we have to offer here at Yankee Stadium. It's a great stadium." . . .

Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain's mother faces up to 20 years in prison when she's sentenced next month on a felony drug charge. Jackie Standley pleaded no contest Monday to an amended charge of delivery of a controlled substance, according to court records in Lincoln, Neb. She was arrested in May after selling a gram of methamphetamine to an undercover officer.

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