On the Mets beat

Mets (38-39) vs. Yankees (42-36)

Mike Pelfrey (4-6, 4.30 ERA) vs. Dan Giese (1-2, 0.64 ERA)

It looks like every time the Mets meet the Yankees, there's something way bigger on the line than just bragging rights. The Mets are coming off a convincing (and, if you're David Wright, way productive) win against the lowly Mariners, though they were only able to salvage one game out of the three-game series. Today, they look to get to claw past .500 and, thanks to a Phillies' loss yesterday (their seventh in eight games), are still very much in the middle of things. Game 1 will by played at Yankee Stadium at 2:05 and the teams will shuttle off to Shea for the 8:05 start.

Pelfrey has been more miss than hit this season, and boasts a somewhat bloated 6.25 ERA on the road this year. His last start, though, was good news for the Mets. He pitched 5 2/3 innings to help seal a gritty 3-1 victory over the Rockies. He had some control problems, walking five and throwing 98 pitches.

The Yanks will send Geise to the hill. It's only the second start of his career and comes off an impressive 6 2/3 inning win against the Reds. Geise was efficient and threw only 75 pitches in the game - 53 for strikes - while retiring 20 of the 25 batters that he face.

Ok, y'all, it should be a good one (or interesting at least). Laura Albanese here to take you through the action.

Top of the first
Reyes strikes out and Castillo walks to start the game. Castillo steals second. David Wright with the RBI single to leftfield to drive home Castillo with a play at the plate. 1-0 Mets. Carlos Beltran flies out to shallow centerfield. Delgado flies out to centerfield to end the inning.

1-0, Mets

Bottom of the first
Pelfrey strikes out Cabrera to lead off the inning. He strikes out Jeter swinging with an inside fastball. He walks Bobby Abreu on a 3-1 pitch. Bloop single by A-Rod over the shoulder of Luis Castillo. Abreu goes to third. Giambi singles to leftfield to drive in Abreu and chase A-Rod to third. Pelfrey gets out of the inning by striking out Jorge Posada.

1-1

Top of the second
Trot Nixon grounds out to first. Marlon Anderson walks. Infield hit by Fernando Tatis and A-Rod topples to the ground trying to make the play. Anderson takes advantage and goes first-to-third. Brian Schneider flies out to Jeter in shallow leftfield for the second out. Reyes hits it back to Geise to end the inning.

Bottom of the second
Leadoff double for Robinson Cano. Wilson Betemit strikes out. Justin Christian grounds to second and Cano goes to third. Cabrera pops out to leftfield.

Top of the third
Castillo with a base hit up the middle to start the inning. He steals second. Wright flies out to right-center and Castillo stays at second. Beltran hits a shot to deep rightfield for a two-run home run. Delgado strikes out. Trot Nixon flies out to end the inning.

3-1, Mets

Bottom of the third
Jeter hits a double in the leftfield corner. Abreu flies out to left and Jeter tags up and moves to third. A-Rod hits a shot to leftfield and Jeter comes home to make it 3-2, Yanks. Giambi walks to make it first and second. Base hit in front of Beltran off the bat of Posada to load the bases. Cano hits into a fielder's choice at second. A-Rod scores to tie the game. Betemit with the infield single on a shot to third base to put the Yanks ahead. Christian strikes out.

4-3, Yanks

Top of the fourth
Anderson grounds out to third. Tatis strikes out and stares at the umpire as Posada tags him out. Schneider flies out to centerfield.

Bottom of the fourth
Cabrera singles and Jeter tries to bunt for a base hit. He's out by Cabrera moves over to second. Abreu rockets one to Tatis at first, who dives for the grab. He flips to Pelfrey, who isn't able to tag Abreu. Pelfrey tosses it in the dirt to Wright, who jumps over Cabrera to try and make the tag. Cabrera is safe. Abreu goes to second. It's scored an E-3. Giambi walks on a 3-1 pitch to load the bases. Posada flies out to leftfield to end the threat.

Top of the fifth
Reyes walks and Giese pitches out twice trying to keep him close. Reyes steals on the next pitch. Castillo walks on a borderline pitch. Hard single to left by Wright to load the bases with no outs. Edwar Ramirez comes in and Beltran goes after the first pitch. He hits into the fielder's choice to score Reyes and tie the game. Runners at the corners. Beltran runs and Delgado lines to leftfield to score Castillo. The ball is boggled and goes past Abreu. Beltran scores and Delgado goes to second. 6-4, Mets.Nixon strikes out for the second out. Anderson grounds out to first to end the inning.

6-4, Mets

Bottom of the fifth
Cano pops out to second on the first pitch. Betemit hits it to Castillo, who lets the ball gets by him for an error. Christian tries to bunt, but pops out to Wright. Pelfrey walks Cabrera. Jeter grounds out to Tatis to end the inning.

Top of the sixth
Tatis flies out to center and Schneider singles. Jose Reyes walks. Castillo hits it back to the pitcher, who goes for the out at second. First and third.New pitcher: Ross Ohlendorf. Wright pulls it the other way for the RBI single. 7-4, Mets. Beltran walks to load the bases. GRAND SLAM CARLOS DELGADO. No-doubter to rightfield. 11-4, Mets. Nixon flies out to end the inning.

11-4, Mets

Bottom of the sixth
Pedro Feliciano replaces Pelfrey. Abreu strikes out on the 1-2 pitch. A-ROD HITS A HOME RUN deep (deeeeep) to leftfield. 11-5, Yanks. Giambi hits it to Tatis, who grabs it with the diving stop. He throws high to Feliciano for the error. Posada strikes out. Cano grounds out to second.

Top of the seventh
Anderson grounds out to shortstop. Tatis grounds out to third and Schneider hits it to second for a quick 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom of the seventh
Betemit strikes out. Foul-tipped strike three into the catcher's glove for Damon. Cabrera hits it to center for a basehit. Jeter hits it back to Heilman, who reaches high over his head for the out at first.

Top of the eight
Reyes lines a single to right-center field for his first hit of the game. Castillo gets a basehit to centerfield to make it first and second. Wright lines the first pitch towards second for a basehit. Reyes scores and Castillo goes to second. 12-5, Mets. New pitcher: LaTroy Hawkins (1-1, 6.12 ERA). Beltran hits it to second and busts it down the line to avoid the double play. THREE RUN HOME RUN, CARLOS DELGADO. 15-5, Mets. Nixon follows up with a single. Chavez flies out to left. Tatis flies out.

15-5, Mets.

Bottom of the eighth
Carlos Muniz in to pitch and promptly walks Abreu. Chad Muller (batting for A-Rod) flies out. Giambi flies out to centerfield. Posada hits a blooper to shallow center for the out.

Top of the ninth
Schneider lines out to Damon in left. Damien Easley grounds out to third for the out. Castillo walks on the 3-2 pitch. Andy Phillips flies out to right end the inning.

Bottom of the ninth
Cano flies out to shallow left-center for the out. Betemit with a double to left. Damon with a linedrive to score Betemit. 15-6, Mets. Cabrera flies out to centefield for the second out. Alberto Gonzales bats for Jeter. Gonzales flies out to foul territory to end the game.

FINAL: 15-6. METS.