MLB

An Amazin’ series from Mets starting pitchers

The Mets own New York.

Well, at least the last week of May in New York. Imagine that. And it’s all because of their starting pitching. Call it the Matt Harvey Effect combined with Terry Collins telling his team it is time to get it in gear.

The Mets completed a stunning four-game Subway Series sweep of the Yankees Thursday night, the first time the Mets have swept the Yankees in a Subway Series, and they did it on the strength of their starting pitching.

This series was simply Amazin’.

Dillon Gee, who was on the verge of losing his spot in the rotation, came up with his best outing of his season and one of the best in his career as he struck out a career-high 12 Yankees in the Mets 3-1 victory at steamy Yankee Stadium before 44,207 fans.

“It’s hard when you lose to your cross-town rivals,’’ manager Joe Girardi said. “Do you really want to be part of the team that gets swept by your cross-town rivals?’’

Gee was in command throughout and needed just 88 pitches to get through 7 1/3 innings. It was his first win ever against the Yankees.

“This is about mental toughness,’’ Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen told The Post. “[Gee] will have success if he gets ahead of the hitters.’’

Harvey has become the leader of this Mets staff in only his second season in the majors. The rest of the Mets starters are picking up on Harvey’s tough-minded ways. They don’t have Harvey’s stuff, but who does? Harvey’s will is enough to help carry this staff at this point. The win improved Gee’s record to 3-6.

Warthen also said the Mets pitchers are looking to Harvey to lead them in every way.

“They go out and watch his bullpen sessions,’’ the pitching coach said. “It’s really great to see.’’

Gee got ahead of the hitters all night. The Yankees struck out 14 times and were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

And check out these startling starter’s numbers. The Mets starters in these four games, pitched 28 1/3 innings, allowed 27 hits and just six runs. In that span, they struck out 31 Yankees.

It was a whiff-fest as the Mets aced the test.

“With what we’ve gone through the last three weeks,’’ Collins said, “the hardest thing I’ve done is keep these guys positive. That’s the biggest part of this job. There was tremendous frustration. Guys were down. They were starting to say, ‘I don’t know if I could do this.’ It’s a long hard season. That’s why this series meant so much to us.’’

The Replacement Yankees, on the other hand, have hit the skids and have now lost five in a row with the Red Sox coming to town Friday. Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis will rejoin the team, but don’t expect those two to get back into the flow right away. Teixeira is a slow starter, but at least Girardi will have two more experienced hitters in his lineup — another switch-hitter and another right-handed hitter.

He desperately needs them. The Yankees need any help they can get at this point.

The Yankees’ only run came on a Robinson Cano home run in the third. Marlon Byrd produced all of the runs the Mets would need with a two-run bomb to left in the second off Vidal Nuno. The Mets added a third run in the eighth when, with runners on second and third and two out, John Buck hit a slow roller toward third that hit the bag for a base hit.

This was not a perfect night for the Mets. Before the game the Mets announced that Jon Niese will miss Saturday’s start because of inflammation in his pitching shoulder.

After Gee left, 14-year minor leaguer Scott Rice came on to get the next two outs. Pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki fouled out to the catcher and then Rice easily whiffed Brett Gardner. That was Rice’s 15th appearance of the month.

Bobby Parnell came on for his ninth save in the ninth, easily retiring Cano, the slump-ridden Vernon Wells and Travis Hafner.

But the night belonged to Gee.

“He used his changeup well and got ahead of the hitters,’’ praised Girardi. “Teams struggle, you have to find a way to get through it.’’

Said Gee of his struggles: “It’s hard to put into words: I needed that [performance] on so many levels. To have that many bad outings in a row, you’re probably hanging on a thread.’’

The Mets have won five in a row. Their starters have been aces.