Yankees 5, Mets 0
NEW YORK -- Right fielder Carlos Beltran belted a three-run homer in the first inning and right-hander Michael Pineda combined with six relievers on a six-hit shutout as the New York Yankees blanked the New York Mets 5-0 on Saturday in the middle game of the Subway Series at Citi Field.
The Yankees (81-66) evened the series at one game apiece and moved within four games of the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East pending the Blue Jays' game later Saturday against the Boston Red Sox.
The Mets (84-64) saw their NL East lead over the Washington Nationals trimmed to 7 1/2 games, pending the Nationals' game later Saturday against the Miami Marlins. The Mets' magic number for clinching the division remained eight.
Pineda was staked to a 3-0 lead before Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard recorded an out. Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and left fielder Brett Gardner opened the game with flared singles to center, after which Beltran - booed prior to every at-bat by Mets fans still angry he struck out looking as the potential winning run in Game 7 of the 2006 NL Championship Series - homered deep into the second deck in right field.
Syndergaard retired the next 12 batters and 16 of the following 17, but the Mets got nothing going against Pineda, who entered Saturday with a 6.21 ERA in his last six starts dating back to July 18. Pineda (11-8) surrendered four hits and one walk while striking out four and allowing only two runners to get as far as second base over 5 1/3 innings.
The Yankees added insurance in the sixth, when Beltran singled with one out before catcher Brian McCann hit a two-run homer.
The Mets stirred in the bottom of the inning against Pineda, who gave up consecutive singles to pinch-hitter Kelly Johnson and right fielder Curtis Granderson leading off the inning. After striking out center fielder Yoenis Cespedes, Pineda was pulled for left-hander Justin Wilson, who walked second baseman Daniel Murphy to load the bases before he struck out third baseman David Wright and pinch-hitter Juan Uribe.
Pinch-hitter Michael Cuddyer and shortstop Wilmer Flores singled with two outs in the ninth against right-hander Chris Martin, after which left-hander Andrew Miller got pinch-hitter Travis d'Arnaud to ground into a fielder's choice.
Syndergaard (8-7) allowed the five runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out eight over six innings.
NOTES: Mets manager Terry Collins said RHP Logan Verrett will take RHP Jacob deGrom's turn in the rotation Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves. DeGrom ranks among the National League's top 10 in ERA (2.64) and strikeouts (189) but has a 6.41 ERA in his last five starts. ... Mets RHP Tyler Clippard (back) was expected to miss a second straight game. Clippard's back seized while playing catch Friday afternoon. ... Yankees manager Joe Girardi said RHP Masahiro Tanaka remains on schedule to pitch Wednesday. Tanaka has made just five starts this season on four days' rest, including three this month. ... Girardi said DH Alex Rodriguez, who leads the Yankees with 32 homers and 83 RBIs, will not play first base this weekend because he didn't look comfortable working out there in Boston earlier this month.