Yanks Clinch Subway Series

For the first time since Interleague Play began, the Mets and Yankees squared off for a three game series in September. To make this series even more intriguing, there were plenty at stake in the series, as it had playoff implications for both baseball clubs. For the Mets, it could have helped shrink their magic number and increase their lead in the division. While the Yankees could have closed the gap in the AL East against Toronto, all the while building a cushion in the wild card race. Much like their meeting at Yankee Stadium back in April, things went the way of the Bombers.

Friday night was the opener of the series, a night which saw the Mets provide the power in the ballgame. Thanks to homers from Daniel Murphy, Lucas Duda and Juan Uribe, the Mets walked away with a 5-1 victory. With the Duda homerun, it was the first longball that Lucas has hit since August 2nd against the Nationals. Mets Rookie starter Steven Matz actually pitched better than Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka. Both starters went six innings, and yes Matz did throw more pitches than Tanaka (Matz also gave up more hits than Tanaka did), but Matz damage was minimal compared to Tanaka. The Mets controlled the opener and were able to even up the season series at two games apiece. That's as close as the Mets would get in the weekend series.

Game two on Saturday, it was the Yankees using the longball in the victory. Carlos Beltran hit a three run shot in the opening inning, followed by a Brian McCann two run shot in the 6th. That was all the offense the Yanks would need, rolling two a 5-0 win. The Bronx Bombers needed guys to step up on offense now that Texaira is out hurt, that's where Beltran and McCann came in for this matinee in Queens. Michael Pineda got the start for the Yanks, allowed only four singles in five and a third innings to win for just the second time since the All-Star break. Penadia had been one of the more reliable starters for the Bombers most of the year, but had cooled off a little here in the 2nd half of the season. New York's pen was able to keep the Mets offense quite and off the board with a combined six relievers. Nobody on the Mets was able to really hit the ball hard against the Yanks, the team failing to support starter Noah Syndergard (who struck out eight in six innings of work, while allowing the two homers). Thor had a good start for the Mets but the offense just wasn't there to support him.

Now, for the rubber match Sunday night. It was the big pitching matchuup (by name anyway) as Matt Harvey went against CC Sabathia. The big story from this game was the sloppy play of the Mets, Matt Harvey's early exit and the Yankees taking full advantage of it.  Harvey held the Yankees at bay for five innings, allowing only one hit and walking one while striking out seven. Once Harvey was pulled due to innings limit (more on that shortly), the Yankees ran wild, pounding out eight hits and eleven runs, seven of which were earned, en rout to an 11-2 blowout win. Dustin Ackley (three run homer) and Greg Bird (three run shot) provided the major source of power for the Bombers. Beltran, Chase Headly, Bryan McCann, and Jacoby Elsbury provided the rest of the offensive punch for the Yankees. Sabathia kept the Mets quite over six innings, striking out seven and walking three, all while allowing only one run. Daniel Murphy's botch on a ground ball, and Travis d'Arnaud bad throw allowed the Yankees to blow the game open in the 6th. Very sloppy game by the Mets all around after Harvey left. The Yankees win the Subway series 4-2, taking the series for the first time since 2012.

A couple of thoughts about this series. From the Yankees side, the bats seem to wake up over the final two games, especially in the power department, something that's going to be big coming into the series this week with the Blue Jays. By taking the series from the Mets, the Bombers are now just 2.5 games back of the Jays. That's huge for the Bombers, because it could now set the table to overtake Toronto for the division, depending on how things play out over the next three days.

What this series really showed was some question marks for the Mets. Their lead is now six over the Nationals in the East. I can't really see the Mets having a repeat of what happened eight years ago, but it does leave one to wonder. Another thing that struck me was how quiet Yoenis Cespedes was in this series. He was hit with a pitch on the hip in the opener against Tanaka, which may have had an effect on him. He had one hit in the entire series. Was it him getting hit on the hip that threw him off in the series? Was it the Yankees pitching staff being that good that they were able to stop him? We will find out over the next couple of days.

One final thought from the series and that is what happened Sunday with Matt Harvey. Look I know the Mets are trying to keep him within his innings limit (another argument entirely which was revealed today, we'll wait for more info to come out). Harvey was only supposed to go five innings, but I'm sorry he should have been kept in the ballgame. He was pitching lights out Sunday night, being able to keep the Yankees at bay through his five innings. Once he was taken out, the Yanks jumped all over the Mets pen. The Mets mishandled this whole thing with Harvey, now it looks like it cost them a game on Sunday. I understand that they are trying to keep their star pitcher healthy, but I would like to think that a team would really start doing that once they have a playoff spot locked up. Wait another week or so when you know the division title is in the bag, that's the best time to really give him time off and manage innings, not when your in the heat of a playoff race.