On the Mets beat

The Mets (39-39) take on the Yanks (42-37) in Game 2 of the day-night doubleheader at Shea.

Pedro Martinez (2-1, 6.57 ERA) will take the hill against Sidney Ponson (4-1, 3.88 ERA).

It was a brave new world for the Mets in Game 1 this afternoon, as Carlos Delgado teed off againt Yankee pitching for a club-record nine RBIs, with two home runs (including a grand slam). Luis Castillo scored five times with two steals to suddenly become the threat on the bases that the Mets have long asked for. The question is whether this team, which has often fallen back down after convincing victories, can keep it up.

Pedro has been mercurial for the Mets. His last start against the Rockies was smooth until a disasterous fifth inning (six runs on seven hits) cost him the win. Martinez has been entirely hittable (lefties are hitting .358 off of him) since returning to the rotation and has been averaging less than five innings in his last five starts.

Ponson, meanwhile, has been problematic for other issues entirely. Despite strong pitching, his antics off the field (DUIs, hotel disturbances, on-the-field hissy fits and arguments with the front office) cost him a job with the Rangers. And that means something: the Rangers are desperate for starting pitching and are last in the majors. Cutting a vet like Ponson loose means they thought he was Grade-A clubhouse cancer. The Yankees took a chance with him and, if it pays off, it can mean big things for their pitching. If it doesn't - well, it's not like Girardi is a shrinking violet anyway.

If the first game was interesting, this one should be downright Shakespearian. This is Laura Albanese and I'll be taking you through it, inning by inning. Live blog coming up...

Top of the first
Johnny Damon flies out. Jeter grounds out to short and Bobby Abreu singles to rightfield. A-Rod hits a shot to deep leftfield for the long out.

Bottom of the first
Reyes strikes out looking. Castillo hits a slow chopper to short. He's out by half a step. Wright singles and Beltran walks but Delgado (after a huge ovation) grounds out.

Top of the second
Giambi hits a shot to first. Backhanded play by Delgado for the out. Cano grounds out to Delgado. Melky Cabrera grounds out to third to end the inning.

Bottom of the second
Trot Nixon leads off with a linedrive to centerfield for a single. Castillo hits a single to leftfield that fall right in front of Damon. First and second with no outs. Chavez walks on a 3-1 pitch to load the bases for Pedro Martinez. He strikes out and brings up Reyes. Reyes pops up to short. Castillo hits a chopper up the middle. Cano makes the grab and takes it to second for the fielder's choice as Ponson wiggles out of trouble.

Top of the third
Jose Molina hits an 0-2 pitch for a single to centerfield. Ponson tries to bunt and Delgado lets it drop to try and get the double play but the ball spins foul. Ponson strikes out on the curve. Damon pops out to foul territory for the second out and Jeter grounds to short for the fielder's choice at second. Still no score.

Bottom of the third
Wright strikes out on three pitches. Beltran laces a hit to the wall and he cruises to second. Delgado works the count from 0-2 to 3-2 before walking. Ponson floats a wild pitch over Molina's head and the batters move to second and third. The Yanks intentionally walk Trot Nixon. Castro hits the grounder to short for the double play.

Top of the fourth
Abreu walks on a 3-1 pitch - Martinez's first of the game. Abreu steals second but gets nailed by the throw from Castro. A-Rod walks. Giambi lines a base hit to rightfield to load the bases. Cano grounds to first to score Abreu. 1-0, Yanks. Cabrera is walked intentionally. Molina hits it to Wright, who steps on third to get Giambi. He throws it to first but Molina beats it by a few steps. A-Rod scores. 2-0, Yankees. Two outs. Ponson strikes out on three pitches.

2-0, Yankees

Bottom of the fourth
Endy Chavez pops up to second base. Martinez grounds out to short and Reyes grounds a single to centerfield. Reyes tries for second with Castillo at-bat and is caught stealing.

Top of the fifth
Damon floats one over Delgado. Castillo gets to the ball but Martinez doesn't cover first. Damon reaches base. Jeter walks. Abreu lines it to leftfield and Damon scores before the throw from Chavez. Jeter goes to third and Abreu to first with A-Rod to bat. A-Rod strikes out swinging to bring up Giambi. Abreu steals to take away the double play chance. Giambi walks on the 3-2 pitch. Cano with the sacrifice foul flyout to score Jeter. 4-0, Yanks. Cabrera strikes out.

4-0, Yankees

Bottom of the fifth
Castillo grounds out to second. Wright grounds out to short and Beltran grounds out to second. Easy inning for Ponson.

Top of the sixth
Pedro hits Jose Molina with the first pitch. Ponson sacrifices him to second. Damon grounds out to Delgado, who flips it to Martinez for the out. Jeter drills a hanging curveball to center to score Molina. 5-0, Yanks. That's it for Pedro. Scott Schoeneweis in in to pitch. Abreu hits an opposite field double to drive in Jeter. The Mets walk A-Rod intentionally. Giambi strikes out.

6-0, Yanks

Bottom of the sixth
Delgado grounds out. So does Nixon. Castillo strikes out to end the inning.

Top of the seventh
Cano hits a solo home run to lead off the inning. Cabrera flies out. Molina shoots a single to leftfield. Wilson Betemit is hitting for Ponson. Betemit singles to set the table for Damon. Damon walks to load the bases. Joe Smith in to pitch to Jeter. He hits a slow grounder to short to score Molina. He's out at first. Abreu drills a single over the glove of a leaping Castillo for his third RBI of the night. Betemit scores. 9-0, Yanks. Smith strikes out A-Rod.

9-0, Yanks

Bottom of the seventh
Kyle Farnsworth into pitch to Endy Chavez. Endy walks on four pitches. Tatis strikes out. Reyes strikes out swinging for out number two. Castillo flies out to left to end the inning.

Top of the eighth
Justin Christian (came in to play right last inning) grounds out to first. Cano grounds out to first. Cabrera grounds out to Delgado, who flips to Smith.

Bottom of the eighth
Jose Veras in to pitch. Betemit to third, Alberto Gonzalez to short and Moeller to first. Infield hit by Wright (ball was bobbled by Betemit, now at third). Andy Phillips lines out. Delgado walks and Easley grounds out to move the runners to second and third. Castro flies out.

Top of the ninth
Wagner in to pitch and walks Molina to start the inning. Betemit flies out and Damon grounds to third. Molina moves up but Gonzalez flies out.

Bottom of the ninth
Kei Igawa in to pitch. Chavez pops up to first. Tatis hits a one-out single and Reyes gets on board with another single. Castillo hits into the double play to end the game.

FINAL: 9-0, Yankees