MLB

Murphy’s clutch single leads Mets over Yankees

AMAZIN’ MOMENT: Daniel Murphy runs to first after hitting an RBI single that scored Jordany Valdespin during the eighth inning of the Mets’ 2-1 victory over the Yankees in the first game of their Subway Series last night.

AMAZIN’ MOMENT: Daniel Murphy runs to first after hitting an RBI single that scored Jordany Valdespin during the eighth inning of the Mets’ 2-1 victory over the Yankees in the first game of their Subway Series last night. (AP)

Daniel Murphy went from victim to hero over a two-inning stretch last night, turning the Mets into winners in Round 1 of the great subway race, 2013 edition.

Brett Gardner would have needed to become Superman to catch the bullet Murphy hit in the eighth inning that became a go-ahead RBI single in the Mets’ 2-1 victory over the Yankees before 32,911 at Citi Field.

How pumped was Murphy? He slammed his bat in celebration, two innings after Gardner had reached over the fence in left-center to rob him of a two-run homer.

“Dan’s hit tonight, it meant something,” manager Terry Collins said. “I know it’s the Yankees and they are used to playing in these games and all this stuff, but for us it’s a big win. The way we’ve been going it’s huge for us, so a little emotion is involved and if they take offense to it, I don’t know what we’re going to do except play again [tonight].”

But according to David Robertson, who surrendered the go-ahead single to Murphy, no offense was taken.

“He was probably excited,” Robertson said. “He got a game-winning hit. I’m not going to take anything away from the guy.”

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The Mets (19-29) won their second straight and will have momentum on their side tonight in the form of ace Matt Harvey, who is scheduled to face Hiroki Kuroda.

Murphy thought he had cleared the fence in the sixth to give the Mets a 2-1 lead against Phil Hughes only to watch Gardner make a highlight reel play to end the inning.

“There was a lot of prayer that went on between the robbing of the home run and the next at-bat,” Murphy said. “Mostly for peace, because I was fairly angry after [Gardner] took that from us.

“Not even so much for myself, but I felt like I took a good swing and it would have made a 2-1 ballgame in a big game that we feel like for us, we’re trying to get something rolling. I had to calm myself and I had to ask for some help with that.”

With the game 1-1 in the eighth, Mike Baxter hit a bloop double before Jordany Valdespin walked with one out. After a passed ball by Chris Stewart allowed the runners to advance, Baxter was out at the plate on a fielder’s choice with Ruben Tejada batting. Murphy then delivered with a sharp single to give the Mets their first lead.

Bobby Parnell worked a scoreless ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances. Parnell walked Ichiro Suzuki, but struck out Lyle Overbay and retired Travis Hafner to end it.

An inning after Gardner robbed Murphy of a go-ahead homer, David Wright hit a no-doubter leading off the seventh against Hughes that made it 1-1. The homer was Wright’s ninth in his career against the Yankees.

“[Wright] is a superstar and he put a superstar at-bat on him,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

Jon Niese received a no-decision after allowing one run on eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts over seven innings. Mets starting pitchers have won only three games over the team’s last 30 games.

The Yankees received an even better start from Hughes, who surrendered one run on four hits with no walks and six strikeouts over seven innings. It gave the right-hander a second straight no-decision in which he pitched at least six innings and allowed two runs or fewer.

The Yankees finally broke through against Niese in the sixth. Gardner hit a sinking line drive to left on which Lucas Duda went for the diving catch. The ball bounced past Duda, giving Gardner a leadoff triple. Jayson Nix’s RBI single moments later put the Mets in a 1-0 hole.

But that was it for the Yankees, as Niese, Brandon Lyon and Parnell rolled for the remainder.

“It’s obviously fun to go out and beat those guys for our fans because of the rivalry, because of New York,” Wright said. “What the fans bring to those games obviously rubs off on the players on the field and it’s special to go out there and try to take this series.”