New York ? An hour after Game 6 of the AL championship series was postponed, there was Andy Pettitte in a nearly empty Yankee Stadium, drenched in the pouring rain.

With his short hair soaked and sweat shirt dripping, the New York Yankees’ pitcher played catch in the outfield and ran light sprints through thick puddles on the warning track before finally grabbing some cover in the dugout.

Admittedly eager, Pettitte will have to wait for his chance to close out the Los Angeles Angels. Game 6 never started Saturday night and was rescheduled for

7:20 p.m. today.

“The worst part of it is just the wait. This was the longest day ever. And I was just about to start getting in my routine and they come walking in there and tell me it got canceled,” Pettitte said. “You realize it’s a rainout. Get ready to do it tomorrow. But it’s just frustrating from the standpoint it’s just such a long day, when you’re so ready and so anxious to get the game going.”

The Yankees lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 and need one victory to clinch their 40th pennant and reach the World Series for the first time since 2003. Game 7, if necessary, will be at 6:57 p.m. Monday in New York.

If lefty Joe Saunders and the Angels can push the series that far, the rainout could benefit them. No. 1 starter John Lackey, who took a shutout into the seventh inning of Game 5, could be available to pitch on three days’ rest.

“I think it benefits both teams certainly for resetting a bullpen and some things. It’s going to give us more options to look at, absolutely,” Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. “We still have our whole staff out there for tomorrow. John Lackey is not — he’s still in play tomorrow. We’ll get through Game 6. There’s no sense talking about a Game 7.”

Back home in sunny California, the Angels staved off elimination with a stirring comeback victory in Game 5 on Thursday night. Does the postponement Saturday stall their momentum?

“I don’t think it has that much to do with it. Guys are ready,” Scioscia said. “I’m sure it’s the same way in the other clubhouse.”