Mets Tie Subway Series, As Harvey Dominates Yanks

Mark Teixeira homered twice and helped the New York Yankees to a victory in Game 1 of the three game Subway Series against the New York Mets on Friday night. But on Saturday, it would be homers by the Mets’ Lucas Duda and Kevin Plawecki and a stellar performance by Matt Harvey that led the Mets to a 8-2 win and tie the series at a game a piece.

CC Sabathia ( 0-4, 5.96) took the start for the Yanks and although he was strong in his last outing against the Detroit Tigers, the lefty struggled at times on Saturday.

Duda gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with his second homer of the season on a line drive to right.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Stephen Drew got things going for the Yankees with a double on a line drive to center. A single by Didi Gregorius advanced Drew to 3rd to put runners on the corners. Jacoby Ellsbury then grounded into a double play to send Drew home and tie the game at one.

In the top of the 4th, Michael Cuddyer started things off by hitting a single on a line drive to center. Daniel Murphy grounded into a force out nabbing Cuddyer at second. Juan Lagares hit his first triple of the season on a line drive to center to send Murphy home and put the Mets up 2-1. An RBI single by Wilmer Flores gave the Mets a 3-1 lead and they weren’t done just yet as they continued to beat up Sabathia. It would be Plawecki’s two run homer on a line drive to left that put a total of four runs on the board for the Mets.

Plawecki’s homer was just a little more of a big deal as it was his first career home run. In just his fourth Major League start, the rookie catcher had three RBIs on Saturday. The 24-year old catcher was called up earlier this week after Travis d’Arnaud broke his hand after being hit by a pitch against the Marlins on Sunday.

Sabathia’s day would end after five innings of work, allowing nine hits and seven runs, striking out just two after trying to start the sixth. He was relieved by Esmil Rogers (ERA 2.84) who pitched the next three innings allowing three hits and one more run by the Mets, while striking out three.

The Yanks other run would come in the form of yet another home run by first baseman Mark Teixeira, his eighth of the season and third in two days, this time off Harvey.

Harvey (4-0, 3.04) tried to go the distance pitching 8 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, two runs and fanning seven batters. After a single by Teixeira and a walk by Brian McCann in the top of the ninth, Terry Collins decided that Harvey’s day was over, just one batter short of a complete game, something that he hasn’t done since May 7, 2013.

Carlos Torres (ERA 4.05) was able to get the last out of the game to secure the Mets win as they improve to 14-4 as Harvey picks up his fourth win of the season (4-0). Sabathia falls to (0-4) on the year and the Yankees are now (10-8).

Next Game:

The third and final game of the Subway Series will now hit prime time on Sunday Night Baseball with RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 3.12) on the mound for the Yankees and LHP Jon Niese (2-0, 1.50) taking the hill for the Mets.