Flushing, NY (Sports Network) – Robinson Cano hit a two-run triple to back six strong innings from Bartolo Colon, as the New York Yankees downed the Mets, 5-2, in the second edition of this three-game interleague set.
Eduardo Nunez finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and a solo homer, and Curtis Granderson added a solo shot for the Yankees, who have won a season-high seven consecutive games, including the first two in this series.
Activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the contest after suffering a left hamstring strain, Colon (6-3) yielded five hits while fanning six to win his fourth straight start.
Jason Bay and Lucas Duda drove in a run each for the Mets, losers of three straight. Dillon Gee (8-2) was tagged in defeat for seven hits and four runs over seven full frames, striking out seven with three walks.
Granderson snapped the scoreless deadlock with a one-out homer to right-center in the sixth. Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez followed with singles and Cano plated both with a triple. Nick Swisher’s sacrifice fly to left made it 4-0.
Nunez clubbed his homer with one down in the ninth against Tim Byrdak, and the Mets came up with two in the home portion off Sergio Mitre on consecutive groundouts by Bay and Duda. Josh Thole grounded back to the mound for the final out.
Both hurlers kept the opposition in check through the first 4 1/2 innings. The Mets loaded the bases in the home fifth thanks to three consecutive one-out singles, but Colon survived the rally by inducing an inning-ending 5-3 double- play grounder from his counterpart Gee.
For Colon, who made his first start since June 11, it was his third scoreless outing in those four wins, and marked the fifth time this season he held the opposition scoreless…The Yankees opened a roster spot for Colon by optioning pitcher Brian Gordon to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre…Mets shortstop Jose Reyes left the game prior to the top of the third inning due to an apparent hamstring injury. He is slated to undergo an MRI on Sunday.