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Yankees-Mets Preview

May 22, 2010 - 3:34 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

New York (26-16) at New York (20-23), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Thanks to some outstanding starting pitching, the New York Yankees are moving closer to their longest winning streak over the New York Mets.

Phil Hughes makes his first career Subway Series start Saturday night when the Yankees and Mets continue their three-game set at Citi Field.

The Yankees (26-16) have outscored the Mets 35-4 while winning five straight over their city rivals - their longest streak since they won the final meeting in 2002 and all six in 2003. The Mets (20-23) have never won more than three in a row in this series.

Yankees starters are 5-0 with a 0.84 ERA during the five-game run over the Mets, which includes a 4-0 mark since Citi Field opened last year. Javier Vazquez was the latest starter to shine, allowing one hit in six scoreless innings before leaving with a bruised right index finger in a 2-1 victory Friday that ended the Yankees' overall three-game slide.

Hughes (5-0, 2.25 ERA), who has thrown 2 1-3 scoreless innings of relief against the Mets, will make his first career interleague start. He allowed two runs or fewer in each of his first six outings before giving up five over five innings Monday and not getting a decision in an 11-9 win over Boston.

The right-hander has excelled on the road, going 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA in four starts. He's particularly excited about this one, since he claims it will be the first time he has batted in a game in six years.

"It should be interesting, I'll swing hard and hope I hit something," Hughes told the Yankees' official website. "I just hope (Mets starter Mike Pelfrey) doesn't drill me tomorrow in my first AB."

Pelfrey (5-1, 3.02) is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts against the Yankees. He lost the inaugural Subway Series game at Citi Field last June 26, allowing four runs over five innings of a 9-1 defeat.

The right-hander, who is 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA in five home starts this year, believes he's a different pitcher from years past since he's not throwing his sinker as much.

"I would almost say I've changed from being a sinkerball guy to a four-seam guy," Pelfrey told the Mets' official website. "There are times when I'll only use the sinker when I get in trouble. I've changed."

Pelfrey gave up two runs over a season-high 7 2-3 innings Monday to earn a 3-2 win at Atlanta - his first victory since April 25.

The Yankees got excellent work from their beleaguered bullpen Friday, with four relievers finishing up for Vazquez. Mariano Rivera earned his 19th save in 20 career chances against the Mets. The relievers had posted a 9.37 ERA over the previous five games.

With Curtis Granderson (groin) on the disabled list and Marcus Thames missing a second straight game with a sprained left ankle, Long Island native Kevin Russo got his first start in the outfield and had two hits and two RBIs for the Yankees.

Mets third baseman David Wright went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts Friday as his team lost for the eighth time in 10 games. Wright is 9 for 48 with a major league-high 23 strikeouts since May 8.