Yanks seek to extend their own streak against Mets

(SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Yankees may have ended the Mets' magical run on Friday, but on Saturday they'll look to push their own winning streak to five games when they play game two of the Subway Series at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees handed the Mets their first loss in 12 games in the opener, as Mark Teixeira hit two of three home runs served up by Jacob deGrom in a 6-1 victory.

Teixeira's pair of two-run shots, combined with 7 2/3 outstanding innings from Michael Pineda, enabled the also-surging Yankees to halt the Mets' franchise record-tying streak.

Jacoby Ellsbury added a solo homer as part of a 2-for-5 effort, while Brett Gardner and Brian McCann also had two hits and a run scored in the Bronx Bombers' seventh triumph in their last eight games.

Pineda (3-0) did his part as well, limiting the Mets to a run on five hits and striking out seven without a walk to win a third consecutive start. He was removed after 100 pitches, 78 of which went for strikes.

"It seemed like every hitter he was strike one on almost all night," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Pineda. "And he was very efficient because of that and put hitters away early and located extremely well. On a night like tonight, it's extremely impressive."

DeGrom (2-2) entered Friday's much-anticipated showdown sporting a splendid 0.93 ERA through his first three outings of the season, but the reigning National League Rookie of the Year was tagged for six runs on eight hits in just five innings.

"I just had a tough time throwing the ball where I wanted to," said deGrom, who had lasted at least six innings in each of his 15 previous starts.

Staying in the win column won't be easy for the Yanks, though, as they'll go up against the electric Matt Harvey, who has won all three of his starts and is pitching to a 3.50 ERA.

Harvey was bothered by a sore ankle in his last start on Sunday, but gutted his way through six innings and allowed four runs and eight hits. He also struck out seven without walking a batter and has fanned 24 batters in 18 innings this season, while issuing just one walk.

Harvey has only faced the Yankees one time and did not get a decision. However, he only gave up one run in eight innings of that one and struck out 10 batters.

The Yankees, meanwhile, will turn to CC Sabathia, who hasn't won in over a year. Sabathia, though, has gotten better with each outing this season and on Monday in Detroit he held the high-powered Tigers offense to just two runs and two hits in seven innings.

Sabathia faced the minimum 18 batters through six innings, thanks to three double plays and a caught stealing, before the Tigers rallied for a pair in the seventh.

"That lineup is tough," said Sabathia, who fell to 0-3 to go along with a 4.35 ERA. "I came in after the one inning and told Chris Young, 'That should be illegal.' They've got a great lineup. Once you think it's done, they have more hitters coming."

Sabathia, who hasn't won a game since beating Boston back on April 24 of last season, is 3-1 in five starts versus the Mets with a 2.14 ERA.

These teams split four games against one another last year, but the Mets have won four of five in the Bronx.