Maybe the Yankees and Mets ought to switch leagues the way they've been beating up on the other's regular opponents. With wins tonight, the Yankees moved to 10-6 against the NL, and the Mets 12-4 vs. the AL. Then again, it has been a nutty first half, with both the Yankees and the Mets holding playoff spots if it were October today, which I bet you wouldn't have forseen (at least half of that) in March.
The Yankees had a classic regular season battle with the Dodgers this evening, taking game one of the series 2-1. It was a real case of "Manny giveth, Manny taketh away" tonight, as Ramirez both knocked in the Dodgers' only run, and created the Yankees winning run with an unforgivable error on a Robinson Cano bloop to left to score Alex Rodriguez (who homered in Bronx's other run) in the sixth. CC Sabathia was brilliant, giving up a run and four hits over eight innings, walking only three and striking out seven. Mariano Rivera struck out the side in the ninth, including a controversial set of pitches to James Loney which caused Joe Torre and Don Mattingly to have a heated exchange with the home plate umpire after the game. But they should know, when you're Mo, you get those calls. For more, visit Pinstripe Alley.
As for the boys from Flushing, it was just another case of clutch hitting from your big bats and just enough pitching to get by as they downed the Minnesota Twins, 5-2. All the Mets scoring happened in the middle third of the ballgame, including a three-run fourth where the 1-5 guys created offense with singles, doubles and out-hustling the other team. That's how the Mets have learned to win at Citi Field, not with the long ball, but with key hits and speed. That's how they're going to have to do it if they want to be a playoff team. That said, David Wright knocked his 13th homer in the sixth, so that's always nice. Wright has now beaten his home run total, and come 13 shy of his RBI total, from last year's abysmal season. Oh yeah, and Mike Pelfrey won his 10th game. Awesome. For a happy recap, visit Amazin' Avenue.
For more local sports news, join me after the jump.
- It was the opening round of the NHL Draft, and two of the locals had selections. The Islanders selected Swiss winger Nino Niederreiter with their 5th pick overall, and traded to get Minnesota-born center Brock Nelson with the 30th overall. In between, the Rangers took fiesty d-man Dylan McIlrath at number 10 overall. We'll have more on Rounds 2-7 of the draft today (including the Devils first selection at #38). The first overall pick went to Edmonton, and they took winger Taylor Hall. For more on the NHL Draft, check out Lighthouse Hockey, Blueshirt Banter and In Lou We Trust.
- MLB! DIvision! Watch! '10!: The big news was that Edwin Jackson no hit the Rays (with eight walks and an error spread around) making it the third time that Tampa's been kept off the hit list in 12 months. The Red Sox lost in San Francisco, putting both teams 3 games back of New York. The Braves beat Detroit, keeping them a half game up on the Metsies. The Phillies beat Toronto, putting them 2 back of the Mets and 2 1/2 behind the Bravos. San Francisco's win keeps them as the closest Wild Card challenger, putting them 1 1/2 games back.
- England's Daily Mirror is reporting that Thierry Henry is set to sign a two-year deal with the Red Bulls.