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Mets-Yankees Preview

Jun 13, 2009 - 5:30 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

New York (31-27) at New York (34-26), 4:10 p.m. EDT

The New York Yankees were headed for another home loss to the New York Mets, and then a routine popup that would have sealed their fate turned into an adventure and the winning run.

The Yankees will try to make things a bit easier on themselves Saturday when they face the Mets in the middle game of the Subway Series.

On Friday, the Yankees (35-26) got a stunning 9-8 win over the Mets (31-28) after losing all three home games to them last season.

The victory came in bizarre fashion, as the Yankees were down to their final out and trailing by a run with runners on first and second when Alex Rodriguez hit a fly ball to shallow right field.

Mets second baseman Luis Castillo staggered to get under it and proceeded to drop the ball as two runs scored to give the Yankees the win after they were swept at AL East-leading Boston earlier in the week.

"Of course, we feel like we just stole one," said shortstop Derek Jeter, who had two hits and scored the tying run on the error by Castillo. "We were lucky. That's just the bottom line."

Castillo, a three-time Gold Glove winner, has five errors after committing eight over the last two seasons.

"I feel bad. I feel so bad," said Castillo, who was criticized by fans last year while injures limited him to 87 games and a .245 batting average. "The ball was moving a little bit."

Castillo and the Mets will need to regroup quickly, as they'll face Andy Pettitte (6-2, 4.22 ERA).

Pettitte, who will turn 37 on Monday, has been one of the Yankees most reliable starters, leading them in wins while ranking second with 74 2-3 innings pitched.

The left-hander, who has been bothered by a stiff back, is 4-1 with a 4.04 ERA in his last six starts after allowing three runs - two earned - and five hits with seven strikeouts in six innings of a 5-3 win over Tampa Bay on Monday.

"My last four (starts), I feel like it's been a real battle," Pettitte told the Yankees' official Web site. "I'll get it back in sync. I couldn't have felt any better tonight. (Monday) was probably as good as I've felt in the bullpen and starting the game in a long, long time. That was encouraging for me."

Pettitte is 8-4 with a 3.46 ERA in 18 starts against the Mets. However, he's struggled against third baseman David Wright, who is 8 for 18 with two homers off him.

Wright had two hits Friday, including a run-scoring double off closer Mariano Rivera to give the Mets the lead in the eighth. He is 19 for 30 with a homer and six RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak, raising his average to a major league-best .364.

Wright is batting .372 with seven homers and 23 RBIs in 25 games against the Yankees.

The Mets will give Fernando Nieve his first start in three years after they placed John Maine (shoulder weakness) on the 15-day disabled list Thursday.

Nieve hasn't started in the majors since not factoring in the decision of a win for Houston at the Chicago Cubs on June 15, 2006. The right-hander is 2-3 with a 4.67 ERA in 11 career starts - all in 2006.

The Mets recalled Nieve from Triple-A Buffalo on June 5 after he went 3-0 with a 3.70 ERA in four starts. Since being promoted, he's made one appearance, throwing two scoreless innings against Washington on June 6.