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Jun 14, 2009 - 1:23 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

New York (31-28) at New York (35-26), 1:05 p.m. EDT

After allowing four home runs in a game for only the second time in his career, Johan Santana may find it difficult to keep the ball in the field of play Sunday at the new Yankee Stadium.

The New York Mets ace will make his first start at the Yankees' homer-friendly stadium in the finale of this three-game series.

Santana (8-3, 2.39 ERA) won Tuesday against Philadelphia despite allowing four homers and five runs over seven-plus innings in a 6-5 victory. The only previous time he gave up four homers was July 23, 2007, at Toronto.

"Just because you're Johan Santana, it doesn't mean you're going to throw a shutout every night," he said.

His last start came at the Mets' new stadium - Citi Field - which has earned a reputation as a pitcher's park. The new Yankee Stadium has been the polar opposite, with a major league-high 113 homers being hit in 31 games.

Santana is 4-1 with a 3.15 ERA in 10 appearances against the Yankees (35-27), including seven starts. He went 1-1 with a 4.61 ERA in two outings versus them last year - his first in the Subway Series.

While Derek Jeter is a .348 hitter against Santana and Robinson Cano is 6 for 15 (.400), other key batters for the Yankees haven't fared as well. Santana has had fewer problems getting Alex Rodriguez (.238), Mark Teixeira (.250) and Johnny Damon (.200) out.

His 18 interleague wins have him tied for sixth place on the all-time list.

The Mets (32-28) bounced back from Friday's 9-8 loss with a 6-2 victory Saturday to even this series. Omir Santos and Gary Sheffield each homered Saturday to back Fernando Nieve, who went 6 2-3 innings for the win.

Luis Castillo had two hits and played flawless defense one day after his dropped popup allowed the Yankees to score two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to win Friday.

"A big game for us, a big win for us," Castillo said. "We win this game today and we feel better."

The teams have combined for eight homers in this series, with Sheffield connecting twice. Five Yankees have gone deep in the series, with Rodriguez hitting their lone homer Saturday.

Mets third baseman David Wright has four hits in the series to remain red hot, going 21 for 35 with nine runs scored in his last nine games. Wright is hitting .416 on the road with 25 of his 36 RBIs coming away from home.

Wright is 2 for 12 and Castillo is hitless in seven career at-bats against A.J. Burnett (4-3, 4.89), who will start Sunday for the Yankees after his shortest outing of the year. Burnett lasted 2 2-3 innings and gave up five runs to lose 7-0 at Boston on Tuesday.

The right-hander hasn't faced the Mets since 2005. He is 2-6 with a 3.83 ERA in 16 starts against them.

The Mets may choose to use Brian Schneider as their catcher Sunday since he is 8 for 20 in his career versus the Yankees starter. Shortstop Alex Cora is hitless in 16 at-bats against Burnett.