New York Mets 9 — New York Yankees 7
The opener to the Subway Series featured a back and forth affair.
The Yankees turned to Hiroki Kuroda, one of the two remaining starters of the Opening Day roster. Left fielder Eric Young Jr. opened the game with a single and would steal second. After advancing on a ground out, David Wright productively grounded out one more time to plate the first run.
After a scoreless first inning by former Yankee Bartolo Colon, Brian McCann defeated the shift straight on while Alfonso Soriano and Yangervis Solarte followed with singles of their own. Bases loaded, no one out and the Yankees would still struggle to score. Kelly Johnson would strike out and Brian Roberts would line out to first, stranding the runners. But Brett Gardner would come through in a big way, hitting a deep fly to right center field for a grand slam. The first grand slam of the season for the Yankees turned a one-run deficit into a three-run lead.
Through the next three innings, Kuroda was on his A game, retiring 10 of the next 11 before catcher Travis d’Arnaud made it a two-run game with a solo home run to right field, a Yankee Stadium treat. In the sixth inning, Curtis Granderson would do what he used to do in the stadium he used to call home, hit home runs. Curtis Granderson hit a two-run home run to tie the game.
The Yankees would respond in the bottom half of the inning when Soriano hit a ground-rule double to left field and the hot Yangervis Solarte hit a single to right field to plate Soriano and give the Yankees back the lead. Kelly Johnson would hit a deep fly ball to left center field that would become a run-scoring triple to give the Yankees a two-run lead. Brett Gardner would hit a single and put runners on the corners. When Gardner tried to steal second base, Travis d’Arnaud air mailed the throw into center field and Roberts would score from third. The Yankees had a three-run lead and the bullpen would take over.
Hiroki Kuroda went six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out three. He did not have his best stuff but gave them six innings and the offense showed up for seven runs.
Alfredo Aceves would come in and walked the first batter he faced. After getting the first out, Eric Young Jr. would haunt the Yankees with his third hit of the game, a two-run home run to make it a one run game. Aceves would allow one more hit before getting the second out and Matt Thornton would get out of the inning on the bases, when Daniel Murphy was caught stealing.
Thornton would stay in for the eighth inning with a one-run lead. Pinch-hitter Eric Campebll would hit a double past Solarte at third base and Lucas Duda would bring home the tying run on a broken bat single to center field. With uncertainty around Shawn Kelley‘s ailing back, Preston Claiborne came in. Outfielder Chris Young would hit a tie-breaking two-run home run to left field.
The Yankees would hit a pair of singles in the bottom of the inning but it came around a double play. The Yankees had an opportunity in the ninth inning too. Against former Yankee Kyle Farnsworth, Derek Jeter would lead off with a walk, reaching base for the fourth time. With one out, Mark Teixeira would come in and hit a line drive to right field but his weak legs prevented him from extending it to a double. Brendan Ryan would run for him and Brian McCann had the opportunity to earn his pinstripes and create a Yankees moment. Unfortunately, sometimes your should be hits become spectacular outs. McCann would hit a laser on the ground to a diving Lucas Duda at first base. He would turn the 3-5-3 double play in a shifted defense and the unexpected defense ended a back and forth game.
Notably in the seventh inning, Carlos Beltran exited the game. After the game, it was revealed that he had a hyper-extended elbow. Ichiro Suzuki was unavailable due to some bumps he took in the field during the Milwaukee series. Injuries are very debilitating to any team.
Win – Jenrry Mejia (4-0)
Loss – Matt Thornton (0-1)
Save – Kyle Farnsworth (3)
Notables
Mets
*Eric Young Jr. – 3 for 5, 2 R, 2B, 2-Run Home Run (1) in the 7th, 2 RBI (6)
*Chris Young – 2 for 4, R, 2B, 2-Run Home Run (3) in the 8th, 2 RBI (11)
Yankees
*Brett Gardner – 2 for 5, R, Grand Slam (2) in the 2nd, 4 RBI (16)
*Yangervis Solarte – 3 for 4, 2 R, RBI (21)
Current Yankees Record 19-18
