Game Recap: Robinson Cano Homer the Difference in 6-5 loss

The Mets and Yankees met for the final time in 2012, with a primetime pitching matchup between R.A. Dickey and CC Sabathia to close out the regular season portion of the Subway Series. However, it didn’t shape up to be the pitcher’s duel that we thought it’d be. Neither pitcher made it to the seventh, Dickey’s scoreless streak ended, and CC has over 100 pitchers before he completed six innings.

Mets Offensive Highlights:

The Amazins were not the first team to score Sunday night, but they answered quickly in the bottom of the third inning. Andres Torres walked to start the frame, then stole second and advanced to third on the throwing error by Chris Stewart. Ruben Tejada got the ball in the air and drove in his first run since returning from the DL with a sac fly. In the fifth, R.A. Dickey and Tejada both singled, setting the stage for David Wright with two outs. He singled to left, and Dickey hustled to score the Mets’ second run. In the sixth, Justin Turner got it started by reaching on a fielding error by Robinson Cano. Ronny Cedeno singled, then Vinny Rottino walked to load the bases, and Torres chased Sabathia with a two run single to right. Cory Wade replaced him, but Tejada drove in the tying run with a single to left. They tried to mount rallies against the Yankees ‘pen, but they were unsuccessful.

 Yankees Offensive Highlights:

The Bombers finally got to Dickey, ending his scoreless inning streak at 44.2 in the third inning. Curtis Granderson walked with one out, followed by a swinging bunt single by Alex Rodriguez, then a walk to Cano. Mark Teixeira flew out to right field and brought in the first run of the game with a sac fly. Then Nick Swisher made it hurt by taking a high knuckleball out to right center for a three-run homer. The Yanks added their fifth run when Granderson got hit by a pitch and came around to score on a fielder’s choice by Teixeira. In Miguel Batista‘s second inning of work, Cano put the Bombers back ahead for good with a solo shot to straight away center field.

Pitching Highlights:

R.A. Dickey’s historic run of dominance ended Sunday night, but he was still able to dance out of multiple jams and minimize the Yankee damage, keeping the Mets in the game and allowing them the chance to tie it up and get him off the hook. Dickey threw 6 innings, gave up 5 hits, 3 walks, and 5 runs on only 3 strikeouts, and his ERA “ballooned” up to 2.31. Miguel Batista followed Dickey out of the ‘pen and got the loss. Bobby Parnell turned in a scoreless ninth to give the Mets a chance in the bottom of the inning.

On the other hand, CC Sabathia seemed to be cruising for the most part, until the later innings. The Mets took a patient approach with the southpaw, making him throw 112 pitches in 5.2 innings. He gave up 9 hits, 2 walks, and 5 runs (only one earned) on 3 strikeouts. Boone Logan, Dave Robertson, and Rafael Soriano followed CC to keep the Mets at bay.

Worth Noting:

The Yankees scored 12 of their 14 runs in this series by way of the home run, further proving that without Brett Gardner in the lineup, they are an all-or-nothing kind of team. However, more often than not, it works. Cano was the only Yankee with two hits, but Teixeira and Swisher drove in five of the six Bomber runs.

David Wright worked a ten-pitch at-bat against Soriano in the ninth, but couldn’t win the battle, going down with a strikeout. However, Wright did extend his hitting streak to 14 games earlier. Ruben Tejada put together two hits in his return, as did Torres, Wright, Duda, and Cedeno.

The loss drops the Mets to 39-34, as they stay 3.5 games behind the Nationals for first place. This would have been a good time for New York to take a ballgame, as everyone in the NL East lost Sunday besides the Marlins, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Probable Pitchers Monday:

The Mets will hit the road, as they meet up with the Cubs for the first time this season. Johan Santana (5-3, 3.00 ERA) is coming off his first quality start since his June 1st no-hitter, to face Travis Wood (1-3, 4.14 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 8:05pm.