Yanks Split Two Stadium Doubleheader

(GAME 1)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
N.Y. Mets	1	0	2	0	3	5	0	4	0		15	14	3
N.Y. Yankees	1	0	3	0	0	1	0	0	1		6	12	0

In what was an embarrassing game for the Yankees and their fans, the Mets blew away the Yanks 15-6 in the opener. This was the third victory in a row for the Mets against the Yanks this season. The Yankees got absolutely no pitching from anyone that got on the Yankee Stadium mound, as the Mets pounded out 15 runs and 14 hits in the game.

After pitching well against the Reds, Dan Giese did not have as good of a day yesterday. He lasted just four innings, allowing 6 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks. He did not have any command, and seemed to always be pitching from behind in the count (like most Yankees pitchers on the day). He deserves another start, but may be better suited as a long-reliever.

If you thought that was bad, the bullpen was even worse. Edwar Ramirez allowed 2 runs on 2 hits in his 1.2 IP. Ross Ohlendorf gave up 6 runs on 5 hits in just 1.1 innings of work. The big blast was a long grand slam off the bat of Carlos Degado into the right field bleachers which made a 7-4 game, an 11-4 game. He was optioned to AAA Scranton after the game. Latroy Hawkins followed and was also ineffective. He allowed a run on two hits in 2 innings pitched, one of the hits being Degado's second homer of the day. It was an ugly game for the Yankees and their staff.

IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Giese (L, 1-3) 4.0 5 6 6 4 3 1 3.50 Ramirez 1.2 2 2 2 1 1 0 3.60 Ohlendorf 1.1 5 6 6 1 0 1 6.53 Hawkins 2.0 2 1 1 1 0 1 6.03

METS PITCHING

The Yankees offense did come back from 1-0 and 3-1 deficits to take a 4-3 lead, but as I previously mentioned the Yankees pitchers could not hold the Mets down. They did miss several opportunities early to add more runs in the first four innings, but Mets' starter Mike Pelfrey was able to avoid the really big innings.

Derek Jeter extended his hitting streak to 14 games. Alex Rodriguez had 3 hits, including his 15th HR of the year. And Melky Cabrera and Wilson Betemit had two hits each.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Cabrera, CF	5	0	2	0	1	1	2	.257
Jeter, SS	4	1	1	0	0	1	3	.285
Gonzalez, SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.180
Abreu, RF	3	1	0	0	2	1	1	.276
Rodriguez, 3B	4	2	3	2	0	0	2	.332
b-Moeller, PH-C	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.258
Giambi, DH	3	1	1	1	2	0	1	.267
Posada, C-1B	5	0	1	0	0	2	7	.302
Cano, 2B	5	0	1	1	0	0	3	.241
Betemit, 1B-3B	5	1	2	1	0	2	1	.264
Christian, LF	3	0	0	0	0	1	4	.273
a-Damon, PH-LF	2	0	1	1	0	1	0	.324
Totals	41	6	12	6	5	9	26
a-Struck out for Christian in the 7th. b-Flied out for Rodriguez in the 8th.
BATTING 2B: Cano (17, Pelfrey), Jeter (14, Pelfrey), Betemit (6, Muniz). HR: Rodriguez (15, 6th inning off Feliciano, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Cabrera 2; Jeter 2; Rodriguez 6; Giambi; Posada; Cano 2; Betemit 3; Damon. RBI: Giambi (45), Rodriguez 2 (43), Cano (29), Betemit (11), Damon (35). 2-out RBI: Giambi; Betemit. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Posada 4; Cabrera; Christian; Jeter. S: Jeter. Team LOB: 14.

METS OFFENSE

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Carlos Delgado (3-for-5, 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 2 R)

HONORABLE MENTION: David Wright (4-for-5, 3 RBI, R)

GOATS OF THE GAME: The Yankees' "Pitchers"

(GAME 2)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
N.Y. Yankees	0	0	0	2	2	2	3	0	0		9	11	0
N.Y. Mets	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	8	0

After the embarrassment of the first game the Yankees came right back and gave the Mets a beating of their own in the second game. The story of the game was Sidney Ponson, who in his first start of the season with the Yankees pitched very, very well. In 6 innings Ponson allowed no runs on 6 hits, while walking 4 and striking out 4. Early in the game Ponson had some command issues and the Mets loaded the bases twice; once in the 2nd with nobody out, and against in the 3rd with just one man out, but each time Ponson was able to get out of it. All four of Ponson's walks came in the first three innings. Ponson settled down after the 3rd, retiring 10 of the final 11 batters he faced.

Kyle Farnsworth replaced Ponson in the 7th and after walking the leadoff man, retired the next three batters he faced, two on strikeouts. Jose Veras pitched a scoreless 8th, but did allow a walk and a hit. Before the game Kei Igawa was called back up and came on to pitch the 9th. He did allowed two men on, but was able to get Luis Castillo to ground into the game ending 5-4-3 double play.

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Ponson (W, 5-1)	6.0	5	0	0	4	4	0	3.50
Farnsworth	1.0	0	0	0	1	2	0	4.11
Veras	1.0	1	0	0	1	0	0	3.09
Igawa	1.0	2	0	0	0	0	0	13.50

METS PITCHING

With the game scoreless in the top of the 4th the Yankees loaded the bases with one out, but unlike the Mets in the two previous innings, the Yankees were able to score two runs, both on RBI ground outs, one by Robinson Cano, and the other by Jose Molina.

Johnny Damon led off the top of the 5th inning with a single, then Derek Jeter followed with a walk. The next batter was Bobby Abreu and he lined a RBI single to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead. Later in the inning the Yanks added a fourth run on a Robinson Cano sac fly.

With Jose Molina on third base with one out in the 6th, Derek Jeter extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a RBI double off the wall in center. That hit knocked Pedro Martinez out of the game, and I guess the Yankees are still his daddies. The Yanks added another run in the inning on a Bobby Abreu RBI double.

Robinson Cano led off the 7th inning with a solo HR, his 6th of the season. The Yanks scored two more in the inning; one on a RBI ground out by Jeter, and another a RBI single by Bobby Abreu.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	5	1	1	0	1	0	3	.322
Jeter, SS	4	2	1	2	1	0	3	.285
Gonzalez, SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.176
Abreu, RF	4	1	4	3	1	0	0	.285
Farnsworth, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Moeller, 1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.258
Rodriguez, 3B	3	1	0	0	2	2	5	.327
Veras, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Igawa, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Giambi, 1B	3	0	1	0	1	1	2	.268
Christian, RF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Cano, 2B	4	1	1	3	0	0	2	.241
Cabrera, CF	4	0	0	0	1	1	2	.253
Molina, C	3	2	2	1	1	0	2	.225
Ponson, P	2	0	0	0	0	2	3	.000
a-Betemit, PH-1B-3B	2	1	1	0	0	0	1	.270
Totals	36	9	11	9	8	6	24
a-Singled for Ponson in the 7th.
BATTING 2B: Jeter (15, Martinez, P), Abreu (18, Schoeneweis). HR: Cano (6, 7th inning off Schoeneweis, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Damon; Jeter 2; Abreu 5; Giambi; Cano 4; Molina 2; Betemit. RBI: Cano 3 (32), Molina (10), Abreu 3 (53), Jeter 2 (35). 2-out RBI: Jeter; Abreu 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ponson; Cabrera; Giambi; Rodriguez; Gonzalez. S: Ponson. SF: Cano. Team LOB: 11. BASERUNNING SB: Abreu 2 (11, 2nd base off Martinez, P/Castro, 2nd base off Martinez, P/Castro).

METS OFFENSE

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Sidney Ponson (6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 4 K)

HONORABLE MENTION: Bobby Abreu (4-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, R, 2 SB)

It will be a battle of lefties in game three of this four game set this afternoon at Shea Stadium with Andy Pettitte facing off against Johan Santana. First pitch: 3:55 p.m. - TV: FOX - Radio: WCBS 880, WFAN 660