Mark Teixeira hit a two-run double, Edurado Nunez had an RBI single among his career-high four hits and the Yankees took advantage of a generous call to help keep Jose Reyes off the basepaths in beating the crosstown rival Mets 5-1 on Friday night.
Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano had RBI doubles. Ivan Nova (8-4) and six relievers stifled a Mets’ offense that scored 54 runs in their last five games, helping the Yankees win their season-high sixth straight game.
Jonathon Niese (7-7) was pitching for the first time since leaving his start June 25 with a rapid heartbeat. After giving up three runs in the first, he shut down the Yankees through six innings of one of the most anticipated Subway Series matchups in the past several years.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi emphasized that to stop the Mets it was essential to keep speedy leadoff batter Reyes in check. Reyes, who A-Rod called pregame “the world’s greatest player,” did have his 42nd multihit game of the season but was tagged out in the seventh trying to advance to third on a flyout to center with one out.
Reyes electrified the largest crowd in Citi Field history, 42,020, when he tagged up from first on a fly to deep center. He took off for third when the relay bounced away from Nunez, but Nunez threw a one-hopper to third base and Rodriguez made a sweep tag that on replay appeared to miss Reyes, who was sliding headfirst. Home plate umpire Jerry Layne was behind Rodriguez when he called Reyes out.
Reyes leaped up to contest the call and third base coach Chip Hale quickly moved in between the NL’s leading hitter and Layne. Manager Terry Collins hurried out of the dugout, and after several moments of objecting with his arms held wide, he was ejected by Layne.
Girardi called on Mariano Rivera to face Reyes in the ninth with a runner on first and the Yankees leading 5-1. Reyes grounded out to third. Rivera did give up a hit before finishing it.
Nova won his fourth straight decision, giving up seven hits and a run over five innings. With Bartolo Colon scheduled to return Saturday and Phil Hughes only days away from being ready to rejoin the team, Nova could find himself the odd-man out unless the Yankees use a six-man rotation.
The Yankees broke out early against Niese. Nick Swisher singled leading off and Curtis Granderson followed with a hit. Batting right-handed, the switch-hitting Teixeira then lined a double down the right field line for two runs. Cano also had a one-out double to the opposite field to make it 3-0 and bring on the “Let’s go Yankees!” chants.
“Let’s go Mets!” calls broke out when the home team led off the bottom half with two straight singles. But Carlos Beltran popped out and Cano turned a stellar double play on Daniel Murphy’s difficult grounder, fielding the ball, stepping on second and throwing to first in nearly one swift motion.
The Mets scored in the second with Ruben Tejada getting the last of three straight singles to cut it to 3-1.
The Mets loaded the bases in the fifth but Angel Pagan struck out.
Nunez had a run-scoring single off Bobby Parnell in the eighth and Rodriguez hit an RBI double high off the wall in left-center off D.J. Carrasco in the ninth.
NOTES: The Yankees are scheduled to open the 2011 season at Tampa Bay, according to a draft of a preliminary schedule. The Yankees are also in negotiations to play an exhibition that would open the Marlins new ballpark. … The Mets honored songwriter Ruth Roberts, co-writer of “Meet the Mets,” playing the song before the game. Roberts died Friday. She was 84. … Yankees INF Eric Chavez (broken left foot) strained his back this week, setting back his rehab. He’s been on DL since May 6 — transferred to the 60-day DL on June 8. … Yankees SS Derek Jeter is set to play rehab games for Double-A Trenton on Saturday and Sunday. … Mets RHP Manny Acosta did not break his wrist Thursday, according to Collins. The Mets could make a move, though, if the wrist is too sore to allow Acosta to pitch this weekend. … Teixeira made several impressive scoops at first.