‘I don’t have it’

Clayton Andrews’ comeback is over.

The lefthander has decided to retire because of soreness in his pitching elbow. Andrews said he felt a dull ache throughout Monday night’s game and a sharp pain when he tried to throw his curveball.

“There’s something wrong with my elbow,” he said. “Tonight it blew up on me.”

When manager Frank Klebe came to the mound to remove Andrews in the sixth inning, the pitcher knew it was his final appearance.

“I don’t have it,” Andrews said to his skipper. “I can’t reach back and get any more.”

After not pitching at all last season, Andrews struggled in his return to the mound. He was 1-4 with an 8.26 ERA in six starts for the Barnstormers.

No one knew for sure what to expect from him after such a long layoff. But following a two-inning cameo in spring training, Klebe had high hopes that Andrews could emerge as a top-of-the-rotation starter.

“We thought he was going to come in here and really help us,” Klebe said. “Clayton wanted the chance to get back into affiliated ball and make it back to the big leagues. He got his opportunity and it didn’t work out.”

Andrews pitched for 11 seasons. He reached the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2000 before injuries to his elbow and shoulder derailed his career. In an interview two weeks ago, he talked about how much he was enjoying his return to baseball.

It ended suddenly.

“This isn’t the way I wanted it to turn out,” Andrews said. “You just have to move on. This is part of life’s journey.”