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Pettitte, Cano help Yankees squeak by Mets

Jun 29, 2008 - 1:50 AM By Doug Mittler PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees rode another strong performance from Andy Pettitte in the latest edition of the Subway Series.

Pettitte pitched six effective innings to outduel Johan Santana, and Robinson Cano had an RBI single to lift the Yankees to a 3-2 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday.

The teams exchanged lopsided victories in a two-stadium, day-night doubleheader on Friday. Saturday's contest was far more competitive as the Yankees took advantage of a base-running gaffe by Jose Reyes to win for the 16th time in their last 23 games.

Ramon Castro and David Wright homered for the Mets, who fell to 5-6 since Jerry Manuel replaced Willie Randolph as manager last week. The most frustrating day belonged to Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran, who struck out four times for just the second time in his career.

In a season in which the Yankees rotation has been ravaged by injuries, Pettitte (9-5) has remained a consistent performer. The veteran lefthander earn his sixth straight winning decision, allowing two runs and five hits.

"I feel like guys enjoy it when I take the mound and they come ready to play," said Pettitte, who allowed the home runs to Castro in the second and to Wright in the sixth, which immediately followed a 53-minute rain delay.

In his last four starts, Pettitte has allowed just three runs in 27 innings, including a streak of 20 straight scoreless frames.

"It's not the first time I faced an ace," Pettitte said of facing Santana. "We're the New York Yankees and we know everybody brings their best against us."

Reyes was the victim of Pettitte's exceptional pickoff move to end the fifth. With two runners on, two outs and Wright at the plate, Reyes was caught leaning in the wrong direction off second and was picked off.

"Pettitte's a great pitcher. He got me," Reyes said.

Jose Veras and Kyle Farnsworth each pitched a scoreless inning and Mariano Rivera did the same in the ninth for his 22nd save in as many opportunities.

Santana (7-7) did not return after the rain delay, allowing three runs and four hits in six innings with four walks and eight strikeouts. The two-time Cy Young Award winner fell to 0-4 in his last five starts.

"I don't know, man. I'm doing my job," Santana said. "I'm giving my best effort every time I go out. Other than that, there's nothing I can do."

The Mets won all three meetings between the teams at Yankee Stadium, including a win by Santana over Pettitte on May 17. The Yankees, however, can complete a three-game sweep of the games at Shea Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

"We have to find a way to score more runs," Manuel said. "We're better than we showed."

Santana ran into control troubles in a 31-pitch fourth inning, appearing frustrated with strike zone of umpire Mike Everitt. Santana walked Jeter and Bobby Abreu to open the frame and Alex Rodriguez singled to load the bases. Jason Giambi had an RBI groundout and Jorge Posada hit sacrifice fly to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead.

Rodriguez singled in the sixth, went to second on a balk by Santana and scored on a single by Cano.

"I thought our at-bats against him (Santana) were great," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I thought we made him work hard."