Mets Lose Two, Win Two On The Road

After an inauspicious start to their seven-game road trip, the New York Mets bounced back to win back-to-back games in Chicago and Los Angeles.

The Mets followed up Monday's 6-1 loss to the Cubs with another tough defeat on Tuesday. New York started the game well, taking a 2-0 advantage in the second inning, but Mets starter Dillon Gee ran into trouble in the third. Chicago pushed three runs across in the third frame and, after the Mets tied the score at 3 in the top of the fourth, scored again in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.

Gee, who lasted just five innings, was charged with his sixth loss of the season. Scott Maine pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Chicago starter Randy Wells to earn the win.

Determined to salvage something in the third game of the series, the Mets' bats came through in a big way, setting a season high in runs scored en route to a 17-1 blowout.

Daniel Murphy led the charge for New York by belting his first home run since July of last year in the fourth inning. The second baseman added a solo shot later in the game for his first career multi-homer performance.

Ike Davis added a three-run home run and Scott Hairston blasted a grand slam for the Mets, who completed the home run cycle by hitting at least one of each type of home run.

Amazingly, Davis, Murphy, Hairston and third baseman David Wright drove in all 17 runs for the Mets. Each player had at least four runs batted in on the night.

All that offense backed a strong outing from New York starter Jon Niese, who went seven innings and allowed just one earned run.

The next night, the Mets came out just ahead against former teammate Chris Capuano and the Dodgers in Los Angeles, 3-2.

Wright starred for the Mets with an RBI double and a solo home run. Right-hander Chris Young gave his team 6.1 solid innings, striking out six Dodgers and allowing just two earned runs.

The Mets (41-36) will play three more games in Los Angeles this weekend before returning to Citi Field on Tuesday.

Yankees Sweep Indians, Lose To White Sox

Having overpowered the Cleveland Indians 7-1 in Monday's series opener, the New York Yankees kept riding their offense all the way to a series sweep this week.

Right-hander Phil Hughes blanked the Indians to the tune of eight shutout innings on Tuesday, helped in part by a phantom “catch” by left fielder Dewayne Wise on a Jack Hannahan pop-up. Replays showed that Wise never had possession of the ball, but third base umpire Mike DiMuro called Hannahan out.

On offense, the Yankees scored six times in support of Hughes, which appeared to be overkill going into the ninth inning. As it turned out, New York would need all six runs, as the Indians came charging back in the top of the ninth to cut the lead to 6-4.

Rafael Soriano came in and slammed the door for his 16th save of the season.

The Yankees just managed to push through to victory in Wednesday's series finale. Cleveland took the lead twice and threatened to do so again with a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning, but Soriano managed to induce a fly out to pick up save number 17 on the year.

Second baseman Robinson Cano provided the most important hit of the day, a sixth-inning home run that gave the Yankees a 4-3 advantage. First baseman Eric Chavez drove in three runs for New York.

That victory came at a steep cost: Left-hander Andy Pettitte left the game after taking a line drive off his ankle, causing a fracture. He is expected to miss at least six weeks.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, Pettitte was not the first starting pitcher to be injured on Wednesday. The team announced before the game that staff ace CC Sabathia would go to the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring injury. He is expected to miss just two starts and return immediately after the All-Star break.

On Thursday, the Yankees came up just short in the first contest of a three-game set against the Chicago White Sox, losing 4-3.

Right-hander Ivan Nova pitched 7.1 strong innings for New York; Alejandro De Aza's solo home run was the only blemish on an otherwise excellent start. The Yankees took a 3-1 lead into the ninth inning, and Derek Jeter tied Cal Ripken on the all-time list with hit number 3,184 of his career.

However, it all came apart in the ninth inning, as the White Sox put two runners on against relievers Cody Eppley and Clay Rapada. In stepped Dayan Viciedo, who crushed a three-run home run to give Chicago a 4-3 victory.

The Yankees (46-29) enjoy a five-game lead in the AL East standings thanks to the best record in baseball. They will host three more games against the White Sox this weekend.