31.   Only a wayward cut fastball with two out in the eighth inning got in the way of what may have been a perfect game for Brown.

32.   Operating without his important cut fastball, Pettitte had to depend on his sinker and his curveball, and it was a struggle.

33.   Pettitte breaks the bats of right-handed hitters with his cut fastball, but he does not throw a pitch that could make a left-handed batter uncomfortable.

34.   Pettitte had gone to instructional league after last season to work on the cut fastball.

35.   Pettitte has relied on cut fastballs in the past and he is now struggling to get hitters out.

36.   Pettitte fell behind the next hitter, Ron Coomer, two balls and no strikes, and then tried throwing a cut fastball.

37.   Pettitte got something going because he was typically resilient with runners on base and because Joe Girardi shrewdly called for cut fastballs, fastballs and curveballs.

38.   Pettitte throws an effective changeup and cut fastball, and he also helps himself by picking off runners.

39.   Pettitte struck out Ray Durham with a cut fastball.

40.   Rivera found that, with the right grip, he could throw what is known as a cut fastball.