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Yankees, Mets square off in rubber match of Subway Series

May 22, 2011 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - After hitting four home runs, it looks like the Yankees may have their swagger back at home. That isn't good news for a Mets club that is still looking for a rare series victory in the Bronx.

The two New York clubs square off this afternoon in the rubber match of their Subway Series at Yankee Stadium.

After the Mets were able to edge out the Yankees by a run to win Friday's opener, the Bronx Bombers got homers from Russell Martin, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez in taking Saturday's meeting, 7-3.

The victory, the Yanks' fourth in five games overall, also halted their six- game home losing streak that was their second-longest in the Bronx in 21 years.

The power display took the pressure off starter A.J. Burnett, who got the win after yielding three runs -- two in the first inning -- on six hits over 6 1/3 innings.

"He was in a rough spot and he got away with only two runs," said his catcher Martin. "That was big. And then from there on he battled, got ahead of hitters and just competed the whole game."

Derek Jeter had a pair of hits and also stole his 326th career base, tying him with Rickey Henderson for the most in club history. He also moved to within 27 hits of 3,000 for his career, while the Yankees pulled into a virtual tie with the Rays for first place in the American League East.

The Mets also saw some club records fall with Saturday's loss. Justin Turner drove in a run for a seventh straight game, breaking the franchise rookie record he had shared with Ron Svoboda, who put together his six-game streak from Aug. 22-26, 1965. Also, Pedro Beato threw 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, giving him 18 2/3 frames without allowing a run to begin his career. That surpassed Jack DiLauro's 1969 team mark of 17 2/3 scoreless innings to begin a career.

Jose Reyes added three hits and scored twice on Saturday, but starter Chris Capuano gave up all four homers over his 5 1/3-inning start.

"Any time you give up four home runs," said Capuano, "you feel a little punch- drunk, like you're in a prize fight."

The Mets, who had a three-game winning streak end, are just 2-11 all-time in their series versus the Yankees in the Bronx. The two clubs split their six meetings a season ago, with each team winning its home series.

Hoping to pitch the Mets to a rare series victory at Yankee Stadium will be Mike Pelfrey, who is on a bit of a resurgence after a slow start to the season. The right-hander won back-to-back starts before a tough-luck no- decision versus the Marlins on Monday and has given up just one earned run in three of his last five starts. That has lowered his earned run average to a season-low 5.11 through nine starts.

Pelfrey gave up just a run on six hits over seven innings versus Florida and is 3-3 on the season. However, he has struggled in five road starts, going 1-3 with an 8.87 ERA.

The 27-year-old has split four games versus the Yankees with a 4.70 ERA and is 6-2 with a 4.75 ERA in 10 career interleague starts.

Young Yankees hurler Ivan Nova will face a National League opponent for the first time in his career and is coming off a victory over the Rays on Tuesday that halted New York's recent six-game slide.

The 24-year-old righty gave up a run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings, marking the fourth time in his last five starts he has allowed two earned runs or less. Nova is 3-1 over his last four starts with a 2.86 ERA and left Rays manager Joe Maddon impressed on Tuesday.

"Nova had a really good hook (curveball)," said Maddon. "He kept us off- balance with that."

Nova is 4-3 with a 4.33 ERA in nine total appearances this season, all but one of those starts.