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Yankees battle Mets in opener at Citi Field

Jul 1, 2011 - 3:15 PM (Sports Network) - The New York Yankees go after their sixth straight win this evening when they play the first of three games against the Mets in the Subway Series at Citi Field.

The Yankees enter tonight's matchup playing their best baseball of the season after taking all three games of their set with the Milwaukee Brewers to push their lead atop the American League East to 2 1/2 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox.

CC Sabathia fueled the sweep on Thursday, as he matched a career-high with 13 strikeouts and Mark Teixeira belted the 300th home run of his career in a 5-0 win over Milwaukee.

Sabathia (11-4) was dominant through 7 2/3 innings, scattering six hits and issuing just two walks.

"I was just trying to go out and make pitches and have quick innings," Sabathia said.

Teixeira led off the third with his major league-leading 25th home run and Robinson Cano added a two-run double for the Yankees, who have won nine of 11.

Getting the call for the Yanks tonight will be rookie right-hander Ivan Nova, who has won his last three decisions and is 7-4 on the year with a 4.26 ERA. Nova did not get a decision on Sunday against Colorado, as he allowed four runs and six hits in six innings of his team's 6-4 win.

Nova also did not get a decision against the Mets earlier in the year, allowing three runs and 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings. All three runs he surrendered, though, came in the second inning.

"I know they are playing really good -- they have a really good team," said Nova of the Mets. "I know I'm going to have a lot of run support from my teammates, too, so I've just got to keep my team in the game and pitch a good game."

Nova could also be pitching for his spot in the rotation. With Bartolo Colon due back on Saturday and Phil Hughes expected back shortly thereafter, the Yankees have six pitchers for five spots in the rotation.

The Mets, meanwhile, also enter this series on a bit of a roll and over .500 after taking two of three from the Detroit Tigers. After exploding for 30 runs to post wins in the first two games against the Tigers, the Mets were shut down by Justin Verlander on Thursday, falling 5-2 at Comerica Park.

Daniel Murphy and Carlos Beltran hit solo homers, and Jose Reyes went 2-for-3 for the Mets, who had a four-game winning streak stopped.

Mike Pelfrey (4-7) was tagged with the loss, surrendering five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits in just 4 2/3 innings.

Tonight the Mets turn to lefty Jonathon Niese, who is 7-6 with a 3.67 ERA. Niese won for the fourth time in five decisions on Saturday in Texas, as he allowed two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

This will be his first-ever assignment against the Yankees.

The Yankees took two of three from the Mets earlier in the year and are 10-5 against them since the start of the 2009 campaign.