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Yankees seek 10th straight win, face struggling Mets

Jun 15, 2007 - 1:52 PM NY Mets (36-28) at NY Yankees (33-31) 7:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees were struggling before Roger Clemens pitched his first game for them. Since he's arrived the club has been perfect.

Clemens and the Yankees look to extend their winning streak to 10 games when they host the struggling New York Mets in interleague play on Friday.

The Yankees defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 7-1, on Thursday afternoon for their ninth straight victory, pushing them two games over .500 (33-31) for only the second time in 2007.

However Yankees manager Joe Torre knows these victories cannot continue forever.

"The most important thing about this streak we're going through now is not to forget what it feels like," Torre said. "There's going to be a time later in the year that you're going to have to call upon this."

Andy Pettitte picked up the victory to even his record at 4-4 and now will watch his good buddy Clemens try to continue the streak.

Clemens, who signed with the organization on May 6, was originally scheduled to make his season debut on June 4 vs. the Chicago White Sox. However he was pushed back one start due to a sore groin.

Instead, the 44-year-old Clemens (1-0, 4.50 ERA) started against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, allowing three runs, five hits and two walks in six innings. The seven-time Cy Young Award winner also struck out seven for the Yankees, who lead the "Subway Series" with a 33-24 mark, and are 18-9 against their intra-city rival at Yankee Stadium.

Clemens is 3-5 against the Mets in 10 career starts, posting a 5.09 ERA in 63 2/3 innings pitched.

The Mets have fallen into a tailspin, losing five straight and nine of 10. They are 1-5 on a nine-game road trip after dropping a 9-1 decision to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. They have also scored only three runs or less in seven of their last nine losses.

Oliver Perez (6-5, 3.21) toes the rubber for Mets, trying to avoid losing his third straight start. The lefthander surrendered five runs, seven hits and five walks in five innings of an 8-7 defeat to the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.

Perez did earn a win against the Yankees in the first game of a series at Shea Stadium in May. He allowed two runs and five hits in 7 2/3 innings. Perez is 2-1 in his career against the Yankees with a 4.19 ERA in 19 1/3 innings pitched.