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New York Yankees Recap: Yankees Drop Subway Series Opener To Mets 5-1

By Caleb Gebrewold

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The New York Yankees began a three-game set with the crosstown Mets on Friday.  Looking to close the 3 1/2 game lead on the Toronto Blue Jays, the Yankees were looking for a big performance from ace Masahiro Tanaka.  The Mets sent rookie Steven Matz to the hill.

The Yankees struck first as Brett Gardner walked to begin the game and was moved to third on a Carlos Beltran one-out single.  Chris Young followed with a sacrifice fly and the Yankees were up 1-0.

The Mets responded in the bottom of the second with a home run from Lucas Duda.  The home run ball, which has hurt Tanaka all season long, once again was an issue in an otherwise stellar performance.  In the bottom half of the sixth, Daniel Murphy connected with a solo home run giving the Mets a 2-1 lead.

The two home runs would prove to be all the Mets needed, as the Yankees offense once again struggled to score, despite nine hits.  Tanaka, who was pinch-hit for by Jacoby Ellsbury in the top of the seventh, was done after six innings, allowing just two runs on five hits, while walking none and striking out four.

With Chasen Shreve on to pitch the seventh, Wilmer Flores hit a two-out single, and Juan Uribe followed with a two-run home run.  With the Yankees offense struggling to score runs, the three run lead seemed insurmountable.

Trailing by three runs, the Yankees sent Branden Pinder to the mound for the eighth inning.  After Pinder allowed a one-out triple to Murphy, and walked David Wright, he was replaced by James Pazos.  With Duda at the plate, Pazos threw a wild pitch, allowing pinch-runner Eric Young Jr. to score, extending the Mets lead to 5-1.

Down four runs in the top of the ninth, the Yankees made a comeback effort, as pinch-hitter Dustin Ackley hit a leadoff double to right field.  After a Didi Gregorius groundout, Alex Rodriguez, pinch-hitting, was walked, followed by an infield single by Ellsbury.

With just one-out and the bases loaded, Gardner hit a fly out to left field, and Chase Headley was struck out on three pitches, ending the Yankees threat and the game.

Despite the good outing from Tanaka, the Yankees loss, combined with a Blue Jays win over the Boston Red Sox, put the Yankees 4 1/2 games out of the division lead.

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