On the Mets beat

Hey Mets fans! Marc Jimenez here as today’s blogger as we get set for the Subway Series. Johan Santana (4-2, 3.10) will go for the Mets (20-19). In his last outing, he allowed three runs on 10 hits in a 12-6 win over Cincinnati on Saturday. Andy Pettitte (3-4, 4.40) will be on the hill for the Yankees (20-22). In his last outing, Pettitte was not sharp. He gave up five runs on eight hits over four innings in a 7-1 loss to the Rays on Monday.

Both team are coming off losing series. The Mets dropped three-of-four to Washington while the Yankees lost three-of-four to Tampa Bay. Will be back after the Mets bat.

If you would like to check out the Yankees blog, please click here.

Top of 1st: Not a good start for the Mets as Pettitte strikes out the side. After Reyes and Chruch fanned, Wright reached on an infield single -- Jeter couldn’t make his patent leaping throw -- before Beltran went down swinging.

Bottom of 1st: Santana has had problems giving up the long ball and after walking Damon, he served up a two-run homer to Jeter. Yankees 2, Mets 0.

Top of 2nd: Alou led off the inning with a single, but Delgado and Easley struck out, and Pettitte picked off Alou while Schneider was at the plate. Pettitte has 5 ks already.

Bottom of 2nd: Easy inning for Santana. He allowed just a walk to Melky before striking out Moeller to end the inning.

Top of 3rd: The Mets go down in order as Schneider and Castillo ground out and Reyes pops out.

Bottom of 3rd: Good defense by the Mets kept the Yankees off the board. After Damon led off with a single, Abreu ripped a double to right and as Damon raced around third he was gunned down on the relay throw from Church to Castillo. Schneider also did a nice job blocking the plate.

Top of 4th: The Mets break free for three runs in the inning to take the lead. Pettitte, who coasted though the first three innings, allowed the first four batters to reach base. Church, Wright and Beltran all singled as the Mets pushed a run across. Delgado then popped out and Easley was called out on strikes with the bases loaded and no one out. But Schneider, after a long battle, walked to force in a run and Castillo hit one that went about five beat. Pettitte waited for it to go foul but the ball just died. Mets 3, Yankees 2.

Bottom of 4th: Santana retired the side in order for his first 1-2-3 inning. He snared a comebacker off the bat of Giambi and got Cano and Melky to ground out.

Top of 5th: After two quick outs, Beltran singled, Alou was hit by a pitch (forearm: he stayed in the game) and Delgado struck out.

Bottom of 5th: Another quick inning for Santana -- just what the Mets want to see from their ace -- as he set down Gonzalez, Moeller and Damon in order.

Top of 6th: The Mets go down in order. Easley, Schneider and Castillo all fly out.

Bottom of 6th: Santana is looking very good as the Yankees go away quietly. Jeter was thrown out in the inning trying to stretch a single into a double.

Top of 7th: The Mets got three more runs in the inning. Kyle Farnsworth relieved Pettitte (3 runs on 7 hits with 7 strikeouts and 2 walks in 6 innings) and gave up a solo homer to Reyes and a two-run jack to Wright. Mets 6, Yankees 2.

Bottom of 7th: Santana allowed a leadoff homer to Giambi, but retired the next three in a row. He struck out Cano, got Melky to ground out and Gonzalez to fly out. Mets 6, Yankees 3.

Top of 8th: Castillo drew a one-out walk off Edwar Ramirez, moved to second on a single by Reyes, and was thrown out at third as Church went down swinging.

Bottom of 8th: Santana was on his way to a quick inning, but he gave up another homer. This time, it was Abreu who hit a solo home run to center. Jeter followed with a double before Willie went to the pen and Wagner got Matsui to ground out. (Santana allowed four runs on seven hits in 7 2/3 innings.) Mets 6, Yankees 4.

Top of 9th: The Mets tacked on an insurance run off Joba Chamberlain. Following a ground out by Wright, Beltran tripled and Delgado (yes, that Delgado) ripped a two-out single past Giambi. To be fair, the Mets caught a break that inning. Delgado popped one up in foul territory, but Gonzalez couldn’t make the catch. Mets 7, Yankees 4.

Bottom of 9th: It was a tense ninth inning, but Wagner got he save. He allowed back-to-back singles to Giambi and Cano to start the inning, but then he retired Melky, Duncan (who for Gonzalez) and fanned Ensberg (who hit for Moeller) to end the game. Final: Mets 7, Yankees 4.