Associated Press
NEW YORK — At least for a few days, the baseball order in New York has been reversed.
Some might have predicted a Subway Series sweep — but by the Yankees, not the Mets.
Instead, Dillon Gee finished off the first sweep by the upstarts from Queens over their older, more-renowned rival, which couldn’t have come at a more unexpected time.
Gee struck out a career-high 12 and limited the Yankees to four hits over 7 1-3 innings in a 3-1 victory Thursday night that completed the Mets’ four-game smothering of their famous foe from the Bronx.
“It’s always fun to win this series, especially for our fans,” Mets captain David Wright said. “It gives our fans some bragging rights.”
Marlon Byrd had a two-run, second-deck homer in the second off rookie Vidal Nuno (1-2), John Buck hit a slow-rolling RBI single off third base in the eighth and Gee made that stand up with a start that may have saved his job.
“You’re playing as hard as you always do, but you know it’s something special for the fans,” Byrd said. “We can’t go on the road and let up. We have to keep going hard, like we did here.”
The Yankees were outscored 16-7 in the sweep and went 5 for 23 (.218) with runners in scoring position. Mets starters were 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA.
“Does it mean any more that it’s against the Yankees? Had we been playing better, yeah, it would have been huge. But right now we’ve just got to win some games, and it didn’t matter who it was,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “It establishes a mood in the clubhouse that, you know what, we’re not that bad.”
Since the start of interleague play in 1997, the only Subway Series sweep had been by the Yankees, when they went 6-0 in 2003.
“It’s hard when you lose to your crosstown rivals,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “You don’t want to be part of a team that gets swept by your crosstown rivals. Over time, it’s going to happen, but you don’t want to be the team that it happens to.”
The Yankees began the week leading the AL East at 30-20. And the Mets, who had never won four straight over the Yankees, were fourth in the NL East at 18-29.
But the Met extended a winning streak to five for the first time since May 5-9 last year. And the Yankees have lost five in a row in a single season for the first time since a six-game slide from May 11-16, 2011.
Collins had challenged his team.
“I tried everything that I knew to try and it wasn’t working: the pats on the back, the ‘hang with them,’” he said. “So you just had to say, ‘Hey look, it’s got to be now. It’s got to be stepped up right this minute,’ and they did it.”
Using a sharp slider, pinpoint changeup and a fastball in the upper 80s, Gee (3-6) didn’t go to three balls on a single batter, threw 63 of 88 pitches for strikes and retired his final 15 in a row.
Collins had told him his rotation spot was in jeopardy.
“He said, ‘Good job’ for once when I came out of the game,” Gee said. “It’s hard to put into words. I needed that on so many levels it’s crazy.”
The Mets tied a franchise record by going three straight games without allowing a walk, the first time they’ve accomplished the feat since July 5-7, 1994, according to STATS. Yankees batters, usually patient, have gone three games without a free pass for the first time since June 12-14, 1991, when Kevin Maas was their cleanup hitter.
While Gee wasn’t missing the plate, he was missing something: whiskers. Since he pitched against Atlanta last weekend, Gee shaved off his beard and mustache.
He escaped two-on, no-outs trouble in both the first and second innings, and then allowed just one more runner — on Robinson Cano’s one-out homer in the third, his 14th of the year. Gee and his bullpen then retired the Yankees’ last 20 batters.
“He didn’t get many balls over the middle of the plate,” Gardner said.
Scott Rice got the final two outs of the eighth, and Bobby Parnell finished the four-hitter for his ninth save in 11 chances.
Now the Mets just have to play like this the rest of the time.
“It’s a lot more fun to come to the ballpark. Guys are smiling, laughing, having a good time, playing a little more loosely,” Wright said. When you go out there and you feel like you have to play perfect to win games, that’s when you get a little tense and start making some silly mistakes.”
CUBS 8, WHITE SOX 3
CHICAGO — Cubs pitcher Travis Wood hit a fourth-inning grand slam off Jake Peavy and allowed two runs in six innings to lead the way.
Nate Schierholtz and Luis Valbuena each hit their sixth home runs in an 11-hit effort by the Cubs offense, keying a fourth straight win overall and third consecutive convincing victory over their crosstown rivals.
Wood (5-3) hit his fifth career home run and second this year in the fourth inning with the Cubs leading 2-1.
Peavy (6-3) allowed six earned runs and eight hits in four innings.
RANGERS 9, DIAMONDBACKS 5
ARLINGTON, Texas — Mitch Moreland hit a two-run homer, rookie right-hander Justin Grimm took a shutout into the sixth inning and Texas snapped its first three-game losing streak with a victory over Arizona..
Grimm (5-3) allowed four hits through five innings and was replaced after giving up three runs in the sixth.
The 24-year-old AL rookie leader in wins and strikeouts gave up eight hits and three runs, two earned, with three strikeouts.
Arizona right-hander Brandon McCarthy (2-4) had allowed one run in 25 innings when the Rangers scored six in a span of four outs in the second and third.
The outburst started when center fielder A.J. Pollock misplayed a line drive by Nelson Cruz into a double.
MARINERS 7, PADRES 1
SAN DIEGO — Nick Franklin hit his first two big league home runs and Kendrys Morales, Brendan Ryan and Endy Chavez also went deep to give the Mariners a victory over the Padres, earning a split of their home-and-home, two-game series.
Felix Hernandez (6-4) snapped a two-start losing streak, holding the Padres to one run and three hits in eight innings. He struck out six and walked three.
Franklin homered into the sandy play area beyond the fence in right-center off Andrew Cashner (4-3) with two outs in the sixth inning. He connected again with two outs in the eighth, driving a pitch from Tim Stauffer deep into the seats in right.
GIANTS 5, ATHLETICS 2
SAN FRANCISCO — Pablo Sandoval hit a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth to help Barry Zito end a six-start winless stretch, and the Giants beat the Athletics to avoid a season sweep.
A day after San Francisco made three errors and two other defensive miscues, the Giants finally got to A.J. Griffin (5-4) to snap the A’s six-game winning streak with their lone win in the four-game Bay Bridge Series between last year’s West division champions.
Brandon Belt doubled in two runs in San Francisco’s four-run sixth.
Zito (4-3) won against his former club for his first victory since beating San Diego at home April 21.
RED SOX 9, PHILLIES 2
PHILADELPHIA — David Ortiz and Jonny Gomes homered and Jacoby Ellsbury set a club record with five stolen bases to lead Boston’s rout of Philadelphia.
Ellsbury added three hits and Jarrod Saltalamacchia had two doubles and three RBIs for the Red Sox, who enter this weekend’s series against their AL East rival New York Yankees having won 11 of 16 games.
Franklin Morales (1-0) allowed four hits in five innings with two strikeouts and two walks in his first appearance this season. Four relievers closed it out with four scoreless innings.
Delmon Young homered and Domonic Brown remained hot with a pair of hits for Philadelphia, which was trying to get back to .500 for the first time since April 14.
Phillies rookie Jonathan Pettibone (3-1) surrendered four runs in a 28-pitch first inning.
INDIANS 7, REDS 1
CLEVELAND — Scott Kazmir allowed one run in seven innings and Cleveland scored seven runs with two outs in the fourth to defeat Cincinnati.
The fourth-inning rally, which featured six straight run-scoring hits, gave the Indians a split of the annual Ohio Cup interleague series. The Reds won in Cincinnati on Monday and Tuesday before the Indians took both games when the series shifted to Cleveland.
The Reds have lost nine in a row at Progressive Field and haven’t won in Cleveland since May 22, 2010.
Kazmir (3-2), recording his longest outing in the majors in three years, dodged a bases-loaded jam in the third when he got Joey Votto to bounce into an inning-ending double play.
ORIOLES 2, NATIONALS 0
BALTIMORE — Freddy Garcia pitched eight innings of three-hit ball to get the best of Dan Haren in a duel of veteran right-handers.
Nick Markakis hit an RBI double in the third inning and Manny Machado doubled in a run in the eighth for the Orioles, who took three of four from the Nationals in a home-and-home series that began Monday in Washington.
Making his sixth start for Baltimore, Garcia (2-2) struck out six, walked none and permitted only two runners past first base.
Jim Johnson worked a perfect ninth for his 17th save, the second in two nights.
Haren (4-6) allowed two runs and eight hits over 7 1-3 innings but absorbed his third straight loss.
PIRATES 1, TIGERS 0, 11 INNINGS
PITTSBURGH — Russell Martin hit a bases-loaded single off the left-center wall in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift Pittsburgh past Detroit.
Neil Walker opened the inning with a sharp single to right off Luke Putkonen (1-1) and Andrew McCutchen walked. Gaby Sanchez loaded the bases by bouncing a single through the left side of the infield.
Martin then ripped a 2-1 pitch into the gap to give the Pirates (34-20) their 16th win in 20 games.
The Tigers left 11 runners on base in losing their third straight.
Detroit starter Doug Fister struck out 12 in seven innings and allowed four hits. Miguel Cabrera hit two doubles for the Tigers, including the 400th of his career.
BRAVES 11, BLUE JAYS 3
ATLANTA — Ramiro Pena drove in four runs with three hits, including a go-ahead, run-scoring single in the sixth, Mike Minor pitched seven strong innings and Atlanta’s makeshift lineup had 16 hits in the win over R.A. Dickey and Toronto.
Freddie Freeman and Reed Johnson homered and Evan Gattis had three hits.
Pena, Schafer and Gattis made the most of fill-in starts as Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez rested three regulars hitting below .200: outfielders B.J. Upton and Jason Heyward and second baseman Dan Uggla.
Minor (7-2) gave up six hits and three runs — two earned — with five strikeouts and no walks in winning his fourth straight decision.
Dickey (4-7) allowed 11 hits and six runs in six innings.
RAYS 5, MARLINS 2
MIAMI — Matt Joyce and James Loney homered to support pitcher Alex Colome in his major league debut and Tampa Bay sent Miami to its ninth straight loss.
Colome (1-0) allowed an unearned run and five hits in 5 2-3 innings. He walked two and struck out seven as the Rays won their fifth straight.
Fernando Rodney pitched a scoreless ninth for his 11th save in 16 opportunities.
Ricky Nolasco (3-6) gave up three runs and four hits in 6 2-3 innings. He walked four and struck out five. The Marlins have dropped 16 of 18.
TWINS 8, BREWERS 6
MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Mauer had two hits, two RBIs and one of Minnesota’s four home runs to help the Twins sweep the season series against their neighbors to the east for the first time in franchise history.
Chris Parmelee, Brian Dozier and Ryan Doumit also went deep to back P.J. Walters (2-0), who gave up four runs on 10 hits in six innings. The Twins have won five of their last six following a 10-game losing streak.
Kyle Lohse (1-6) gave up six runs on eight hits in 4 2-3 innings against his former team. Logan Schafer drove in three runs and finished a homer shy of the cycle for the Brewers, who have lost a season-high six straight games.
ASTROS 7, ROCKIES 5
DENVER — Chris Carter and Matt Dominguez hit consecutive homers during a six-run sixth, Lucas Harrell won for the first time in six starts and Houston beat Colorado to sweep the two-game series at Coors Field.
J.D. Martinez had a career-high four hits Houston, which swept a series for the first time this season and won three of four against Colorado this week. The Astros last won two straight four weeks ago against the Los Angeles Angels.
Harrell (4-6) allowed four runs — three earned — in 5 2-3 innings to pick up his first win since beating the Yankees on April 29.
Hector Ambriz got his first save.
The Astros trailed 3-1 after five, but Juan Nicasio (4-2) and the bullpen couldn’t hold it. The first four batters in the sixth reached against Nicasio to tie it.
ANGELS 3, DODGERS 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jason Vargas completed an undefeated May with seven sharp innings, Howie Kendrick doubled twice and scored three runs, and the Angels beat the Dodgers on Chris Nelson’s tiebreaking RBI single to salvage a split of the four-game Freeway Series.
Vargas (5-3) allowed two runs and five hits, struck out six and walked two. The left-hander was 5-0 with a 2.30 ERA in six starts this month, after going 0-3 with a 4.85 ERA in five starts during April.
Ernesto Frieri pitched a scoreless ninth for his 12th save in 13 attempts, one night after giving up home runs to Adrian Gonzalez and Scott Van Slyke in a save.
Ted Lilly (0-2) was charged with three runs, five hits and three walks in 5 2-3 innings and struck out three.
