With Hisanori Takahashi making his first start in the bigs for the Mets and Javier Vazquez taking the ball for the Yankees, you can be excused for expecting a big day for the offense. But, both starters engaged in a pitcher’s duel with the Yankees getting the victory 2-1.
The Yankees got both their runs in the seventh, assisted by a huge error by Alex Cora. With Nick Swisher on first, Cora couldn’t see the ball cleanly as he tried to field a grounder to second. However, that’s no excuse for his throw, which sailed into center and gave the Yankees runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Kevin Russo followed with a double that scored both runs. However, the Yankees’ joy was short lived as Javier Vazquez injured his finger on a bunt attempt and had to leave the game.
That turned the game over to the Yankees’ bullpen and things got shaky. Thanks to a throwing error by Francisco Cervelli in the seventh, the Mets got runners to first and second with only one out. Joba Chamberlain came in and ended the threat with a borderline called third strike to David Wright and a swinging strike out by Angel Pagan.
But Wright wasn’t done as the Mets mounted a two out rally against Mariano in the ninth. Back-to-back doubles by Bay and Davis cut the Yankees lead to one-run and brought Wright to the plate with a chance to win the game. Wright swung at the first pitch and grounded it to Robinson Cano to end the threat and the game.
