Pettitte has eyes on the prize

The ritual used to include a pasta dish that was ready for him within minutes of sitting down. But Laura Pettitte has been after her husband to improve his eating habits as he gets older, so Pettitte will likely order salmon instead.

That the Yankees can advance to their first World Series since 2003 will not bring any change of plans for the lefthander.

“I don’t know if there’s a whole lot of anxiety that a young kid or somebody else might have going into that game,’’ Pettitte said yesterday. “I’m not there.’’

Pettitte has started a major league-record 37 postseason games. Ten of those starts have been in potential series clinchers, and Pettitte is 4-2 with a 4.14 ERA in those games. He has been to the World Series seven times in his 15-year career.

“What more can you ask for?’’ pitching coach Dave Eiland said. “We feel good about where we’re at regardless of who is starting but we feel really good because of Andy, because of all the big games he has pitched and the experience he has in this situation.’’

The Yankees lead the Los Angeles Angels, three games to two, after dropping two one-run decisions in California. The winner of this series hosts the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday night in Game 1 of the World Series.

The Yankees were hoping to avoid tonight’s game but were unable to hold a 6-4 lead in the seventh inning of Game 6 Thursday at Angel Stadium. Anticipating a victory, several of the better-compensated Yankees had arranged for private jets to take them to their offseason homes so they could rest for a few days before returning to New York to start preparations for the World Series. Instead they boarded a quiet overnight team flight back to the East Coast.

The Angels were far happier about their flight.

“Oh, this is going to be a good trip,’’ said manger Mike Scioscia during a conference call before the flight. “We still have a huge challenge in front of us. But you’re still in the game. We’re going to come out and hopefully have a good game Saturday and we’ll just take it one step at a time, obviously.’’

That Pettitte could bring the Yankees their 40th pennant comes as little surprise to manager Joe Girardi. But it nearly was not the case.

After the Yankees invested nearly a half-billion dollars in A.J. Burnett, CC Sabathia, and Mark Teixeira last December, they withdrew their offer to Pettitte, who also was a free agent. Negotiations dragged for weeks, and Pettitte settled for an incentive-laden, one-year deal with a base salary of $5.5 million. That represented a 64 percent pay cut from 2008.

There were days when it appeared Pettitte would retire or the Yankees would look elsewhere for a starter. But Girardi pushed general manager Brian Cashman to retain Pettitte, hoping to have him available to pitch in important games on chilly October nights.

“We looked at that in how successful he’s been in the postseason and the type of starts he’s been able to give the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros during the postseason,’’ Girardi said. “We knew he could be a big part. And knowing what he’s done, you feel good that the game is not going to go too fast for him.’’

Pettitte acknowledged at the time that he felt slighted by the salary cut, particularly in the wake of the riches showered on others. But his desire to chase another title won out. At 37, one more ring could send him into retirement satisfied.

“For me, I mean this is it. This is what I came back for. It’s kind of all worked out,’’ he said. “We have a tremendous opportunity here. I have a tremendous opportunity to help this organization get back to another World Series. More than anything, I’m just thankful for that.’’

Pettitte, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera are the only remaining Yankees from the franchise’s last world championship team in 2000.

“We’ve got as much confidence in Andy as anyone here,’’ Jeter said. “He’s been outstanding for us this whole year and big in big situations his whole career. He’s not going to be surprised by anything that goes on out there.’’

The Angels will start lefthander Joe Saunders, who held the Yankees to two runs over seven innings in Game 2, which the Yankees won, 4-3, in 13 innings. Tonight will be Saunders’s third career postseason start.

“I wouldn’t say we’re the favorites,’’ Saunders said Thursday night. “It’s going to be the usual Yankee hostile environment. It’s going to be a lot of fun. They’re going to be all over us. It’s going to be a good battle.’’

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com.