Sports

Mets outflub Yanks in ugly opener

Associated Press
Published May 21, 2005

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NEW YORK - Derek Jeter and the Yankees made their share of mistakes. The revamped Mets' blunders were more costly.

The Yankees scored twice in the sixth inning on consecutive errors by Kaz Matsui and Doug Mientkiewicz and went on to a 5-2 victory Friday night in the first game of this year's Subway Series.

"It feels a lot better when you have a sloppy game and you win," said Jeter, who made two errors in an inning for the first time since Sept. 3, 2002, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Tony Womack walked twice, stole a base and hustled to score two, and Hideki Matsui drove in two of the eight Yankees who walked.

The Yankees won for the 11th time in 12 games overall and ended a three-game losing streak to their crosstown rivals, improving to 27-16 against the Mets since interleague play began in 1997.

For the first time since 2000, the reinvigorated Mets went into the series with the better record, but their new Gold Glove first baseman made an error that led to a run and high-priced newcomer Carlos Beltran left two runners in scoring position before getting a run-scoring single in the seventh.

"Errors happen, and you just hope that if and when they happen, they don't cost you a run," Mientkiewicz said. "If I had to do it over, I'd do the same thing."

Facing his mentor, Joe Torre, for the first time, Mets manager Willie Randolph gambled on the bases, sending his baserunners often, and in the field, bringing the infield in during the fourth inning of a scoreless game.

Though Randolph dismissed the experience as just "a regular game," Torre recognized the significance of seeing his former bench coach in the other dugout.

"I'm sure he felt a little strange, looking over in our dugout and seeing the Yankee uniforms," Torre said.

Randolph's decision to bring the infield in backfired when Hideki Matsui lined a double past Mientkiewicz at first for a run. The Mets got a run back in the bottom half when Jeter, the Yankees shortstop and captain, made two errors.

Fans this weekend will see the marquee offseason pitching acquisitions. Randy Johnson starts for the Yankees today, and Pedro Martinez pitches for the Mets on Sunday.

On Friday night, when a 55-degree temperature and a brisk breeze took the buzz out of sellout crowd, former Devil Ray Victor Zambrano and Kevin Brown struggled with their control. Zambrano walked six in 51/3 innings, and Brown walked four in five innings.

[Last modified May 21, 2005, 01:04:09]

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