The Bronx pair of the 2019 Subway Series was even through one-sided victories. The Yankees took the day, while the Mets owned the night.
In the first half of the 2019 Subway Series, everyone in New York had something to cheer about.
The New York Yankees and New York Mets were forced into a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday after rain opened the week at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees defended their home in the day portion behind a 12-5 victory powered by Gio Urshela’s quartet of runs batted in. At night, the Mets took revenge in a 10-4 win energized by three home runs.
In a case of deja vu all over again, the Mets (33-34) took a commanding lead early in each game behind a big third inning. Their first one, however, wasn’t meant to hold.
The pair opened with Jeff McNeil’s three-run shot off Masahiro Tanaka that gave the Mets a 4-1 lead. An early comeback was necessitated by an RBI single from Kendrys Morales in the prior frame. Juan Lagares had tied it on an infield single that scored Amed Rosario one batter prior. Rosario reached base on a Didi Gregorius error.
Squirrel sends it. ?
Send squirrel to the @AllStarGame ? https://t.co/3FS2jiPPty pic.twitter.com/uiHt23WTzz
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 11, 2019
The Yankees (41-25) wasted no time in silencing the home crowd’s consternation. A Gary Sanchez RBI single in the bottom of the third cut into a Mets lead that was erased entirely with a pair of home runs in the fourth. Urshela tied the game when his fifth of the season to left center scored two runs, while Luke Voit gave the Yankees the lead for good with a three-run blast.
Gio Urshela's amazing performance this season is no fluke. MORE: https://t.co/KtgtHPGqkE pic.twitter.com/TTbdCH5J4e
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 11, 2019
The Punisher. pic.twitter.com/NgdpFjM14V
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 11, 2019
Urshela and Brett Gardner later chased Mets starter Zack Wheeler (L, 5-4) from the game in the fifth. Morales was once again driven home by an Urshela base hit before Gardner got him back with an RBI triple.
Just an afternoon jog for Gardy. pic.twitter.com/bjVcCrv5T6
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 11, 2019
Tanaka (W, 4-5) settled down after the tumultuous third. He would depart with two outs in the seventh, striking out seven. Tommy Kahnle finished the inning before David Hale threw two shutout frames. Batters created the final margin through an RBI double by Urshela and a Sanchez home run.
GARY SANCHEZ IS A HR-HITTING MACHINE!#YANKSonYES LIVE https://t.co/6jFxnf5Kd9 pic.twitter.com/kMNJsjhkez
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 11, 2019
At night, the Mets once again made the third inning their benefactor. But before the third frame, Pete Alonso got a head start on things with a three-run home run in the top of the first.
All-star shot on the big stage. ??? @Pete_Alonso20
? https://t.co/QTvVDQdJRk pic.twitter.com/jwiNqz7Zae
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 11, 2019
The assault on James Paxton (L, 3-3) continued in the aforementioned third. Three RBI singles, one each from Michael Conforto, Wilson Ramos, and Adeiny Hechavarría sent Paxton to an early departure. He lasted just 2.2 innings, his shortest outing of the season.
We'll get there one knock at a time. #LGM pic.twitter.com/E9oLgR8gcm
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 12, 2019
The Yankees immediately threatened at another comeback, scoring three runs against Jason Vargas in the bottom half. Gleyber Torres scored DJ LeMahieu on an RBI single, while Urshela and Clint Frazier each drove one in on a fielder’s chase.
J.D. Davis went on to help make things easy for the infamous Mets bullpen with a two-run home run to the right-field short porch to kill home momentum. Carlos Gomez hit another one, a solo shot, in the fifth to fully muzzle thoughts of a comeback.
Special delivery. ? pic.twitter.com/oCwEB4qXHM
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 12, 2019
Carlos Gó-and-get-it. ??? pic.twitter.com/0oqMO7eV6z
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 12, 2019
Vargas (W, 3-3) took care of the rest over six innings. Jeurys Familia and Seth Lugo each pitched a shutout frame (the latter striking out the side), making a Gardner home run off Drew Gagnon meaningless in the ninth. Rosario had an RBI double in the top half to put the Mets in double digits.
Nothing beats a nightcap. ? #LGM pic.twitter.com/0hQKLN2wT4
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 12, 2019
Rematches at Citi Field will take place on July 2-3.
Both teams will have Wednesday off before taking on foes from Central divisions for four games, starting with Thursday openers. Queens will play host to the Mets’ four-game series against the St. Lous Cardinals (7:10 p.m. ET, SNY). Meanwhile, the Yankees hit the road to the South Side against the Chicago White Sox (8:10 p.m. ET, YES).