Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Johan Santana pitched into the eighth inning and Jason Bay homered twice off CC Sabathia, as the Mets held off the Yankees, 6-4, to close the initial 2010 edition of the Subway Series.
Bay’s Bat Powers Mets To Subway Series Victory With 6-4 Win
Santana (4-2) gave up six hits and a run, while walking three and striking out five batters over 7 2/3 innings to win the battle between the former Cy Young Award winners.
The Yankees scored three times in the ninth inning and had the go-ahead run at the plate in Alex Rodriguez, but Francisco Rodriguez won the fight with a strikeout to end the game for his eighth save of the season.
Sabathia (4-3) was charged with 10 hits and six runs -- five earned -- over five innings. He’s winless in his last four starts.
Derek Jeter had three hits and an RBI for the Yankees, who lost for the fifth time in six contests.
Santana exited the game after loading the bases in the eighth inning. He walked pinch-hitter Marcus Thames, gave up a single to Mark Teixeira and walked Alex Rodriguez. Pedro Feliciano entered and promptly threw two strikes to Robinson Cano, who then popped up the third pitch to first base.
Instead of bringing back Feliciano, Mets manager chose to go to Ryota Igarashi, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list. Igarashi walked Nick Swisher and Francisco Cervelli singled to right field. Kevin Russo tapped a 3-2 pitch out of the strike zone back to the mound, and Igarashi threw to second for a force play.
Pinch-hitter Juan Miranda then singled to right field for a 6-2 game. The Mets then went to their closer, but Jeter doubled to left field on the eighth pitch of his at-bat to bring in another run. Brett Gardner then was called at first after third baseman David Wright charged a slow chopper and threw across the diamond to a stretching Ike Davis.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi argued the close play at first, but his team kept the game going when Mark Teixeira reached safely on a high chopper to the right side of the infield. A-Rod then fouled off three consecutive pitches, but swung through a 3-2 pitch to end the game.
The Mets had the first scoring crack in the game between the high-profile left-handers. They loaded the bases with one out in the opening inning, but Wright struck out and Angel Pagan hit a soft liner to Cano to end the threat.
Rod Barajas doubled to start the bottom of the second, and two outs later, Jose Reyes singled. The runners were on second and third following a throwing error from Russo. Cora then looped a base hit to center field for a 2-0 margin. Cora stole second, and Bay followed by blasting a 2-1 offering over the wall in left-center field.
Sabathia and Jeter singled to start the next inning, but Gardner grounded into a double play. It was the first of 13 straight batters retired by the two-time AL Cy Young Award winner.
Bay took Sabathia’s second pitch of the fifth inning over the wall in right field. Davis singled and scored later in the frame on Wright’s double to left for a 6-0 cushion.
Sergio Mitre plunked Bay in the back in the sixth, prompting home plate umpire Marvin Hudson to warn both teams.
There was a bit of controversy in the seventh when the Yankees scored their first run. Swisher drew a two-out walk, ending Santana’s streak. Cervelli then sent a ball high off the wall in left field, just under the foul pole. Swisher scored on what was eventually ruled a single, even though umpires used replay after Girardi argued the hit should have been a home run.
The Mets host the first-place Phillies for three games, starting Tuesday...The Yankees next travel to Minnesota for a three-game set, also beginning Tuesday...The Mets are 14-5 in their last 19 games at Citi Field...Igarashi hadn't pitched since April 20 due to a strained left hamstring...Bay has a 15- game home hitting streak.
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