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Late power surge gets Yankees past Mets

May 22, 2011 - 11:07 PM Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Derek Jeter and Chris Dickerson hit two-run singles during an eight-run seventh inning the Yankees used to record a 9-3 victory over the Mets in the rubber match of their three-game interleague series.

Brett Gardner smacked a two-run double during the inning for the Yankees, who got four hits and an RBI from Alex Rodriguez. They totaled 13 hits in their fifth win in six games.

Mets starter Mike Pelfrey (3-4) allowed only one run through the first six innings, but was responsible for four of the runs the Yanks scored in the seventh and took the loss.

"We let this game today slip away, and that's on me more than anybody," Pelfrey said.

The Mets allowed 16 runs in the final two games of the set after winning the opener by a 2-1 score.

Pelfrey's start quickly fell apart in the seventh inning, when he gave up a single to Gardner before walking Dickerson and hitting Francisco Cervelli with a pitch.

Jeter came up next and chopped a two-run single up the middle to tie the score and forced Pelfrey from the game.

Tim Byrdak entered and recorded an out on Curtis Granderson's sacrifice bunt, then intentionally walked Mark Teixeira to load the bases. But the strategy didn't work.

After Pedro Beato came in to pitch, Rodriguez tapped a ball up the third base line and the Mets couldn't make a play as Cervelli scored.

"I loved it. I was the happiest guy in the stadium," Rodriguez said of his hit. "We've been talking about playing small ball here for the last week or two, and I don't think it could have gotten any smaller."

Robinson Cano followed with a single to right, and Gardner gave the Yankees full control by slapping a two-run double to left field.

Two more runs scored when Dickerson's shallow fly dropped into left field, making it a 9-3 contest.

The surge made a winner of Luis Ayala (1-0), who tossed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief of Ivan Nova. The Yankees starter pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up three runs -- all in the second inning.

Granderson had given the Yankees the lead in the first inning with his 16th homer of the season. On a 1-1 count, Pelfrey threw a pitch down and in, and Granderson lofted it over the right field fence.

But the Mets surged in front in the next half-inning. Jason Bay and Fernando Martinez began the second frame with singles and advanced into scoring position when Justin Turner grounded back to the mound.

Willie Harris then lined an RBI single into center, and Ronny Paulino plated Martinez with a groundout. Harris moved to second on that play and raced around to score on Jason Pridie's base hit to right, making it a 3-1 contest.

Game Notes

Granderson's shot continued his remarkably hot start. In 2010, his first season with the Yankees, he didn't hit his 16th home run until September 2...Turner went 0-for-4 with no walks, snapping his eight-game hitting streak and 12-game streak of reaching base...Beato was responsible for two runs. He hadn't allowed an earned run in his first 18 2/3 innings this season...Jeter finished with two hits, increasing his career total to 2,975. He also extended his home hitting streak against the Mets to 25 games.