He overcame a first inning jam with one out and runners on first and third. And to Mets manager Terry Collins, that was impressive. “That first inning set the tone for the whole club,” said Collins.  He would pitch seven good innings and an Ike Davis go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning that was reviewed was enough to get Pelfey (1-2) his first win of the season.

Palfrey gave up five hits and a run, walked two and struck out four. The command on his fastball and use of other pitches got him through the evening as he fought a stomach ailment that developed prior to the game. Said Pelfrey, “While in the pen, I said, ‘I’m just going to throw strikes. I don’t feel great. We’re going to grind through this and we’re going to get through it.’”

“If he continues like this I don’t think there’s any question he will continue to get people out,” said Collins. Pelfrey used a variety of pitches including the sinker and the fastball to perfection. “He had a great game,” added Collins.

The bullpen tossed two scoreless innings, including a perfect eighth from Jason Isringhausen. Francisco Rodriguez got his third save with a scoreless ninth walking two and striking out one. Isrinhausen has become the new man for the Mets out of the pen in late innings now that Bobby Parnell is on the 15-day disabled lit.

“He’s not afraid and he’s making the pitches,” commented Collins about the veteran Isringhausen who was a spring training invite and was signed to a minor league contract before being called up. “He’s going to be big for us,” he said.

And for the second consecutive game Davis got the home run, the second go-ahead home run for the Mets in consecutive games. At first the ball hit by Davis to center off eventual loser Esmerling Vasquez (0-1) was ruled a double that hit above the orange line on the black wall. Collins asked for a review and it was ruled a homer, his third of the season and team leading 16^th RBI.

Prior to the home run, the improved Diamondbacks pen had not allowed an earned run in the last six games. Starter Joe Saunders who entered the game with a 0-2 record was shutting down the Mets allowing two hits and a run in six innings. Saunders, making his first career start against New York felt he had enough to stay in the game but Arizona manager Kirk Gibson stuck with his decision.

“It was my decision and it didn’t work out,” he said about pulling his starter. “I accept that.” Saunders was pulled after walking David Wright and after Davis struck out twice. “I’m just a little mad at myself,” he said about the walk to Wright.

Added Saunders, “As a pitcher and competitor out there you don’t want to come out of there. And up until the walk to Wright, and eventual home run to Davis, Saunders was able to set down a Mets team that came into the game hitting .212 against left handed pitching.

“I knew about their problems hitting,” he said. “When the weather is like this you have to go after the guys and be aggressive.”  It was the first Mets win in the opening game of a series at home this season. Carlos Beltran went 1-for-3 with an RBI single and in his last 13 games is hitting .333 with seven RBI and it was the Mets first victory in which they trailed following the sixth inning.

The return of Jason Bay to the lineup has added a spark of optimism who follows Carlos Beltran batting fifth. “We knew one-to six from spring training was going to be pretty good,” said Collins as Bay adds a different dimension to the order.

But the key is Pelfrey, and for the first time this season two good back-to-back pitching outings from Mets starters as Chris Capuano got the win the evening before in the series finale with Houston.

Notes: Righty Dillon Gee (1-0) gets the start Saturday afternoon in game two of the series…. Angel Pagan was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique and outfielder Jason Pridle was called from Triple- A Buffalo. Pridle got the start in center and went hitless in three at bats…

Catcher Ronnie Paulino on a rehab assignment with Buffalo left the game Friday night after five innings with a strained left oblique… Henry Blanco, one of three catchers on the Mets roster last season returned to New York as a member of the Diamondbacks.

The 40 year-old, veteran said he was disappointed that the Mets did not renew his contract, however he has adapted to his new surroundings. “They are a great bunch of guys in here,” he said about his new team. “I miss it here, but it is a good situation for me and my family,” and the Diamondbacks welcome his veteran leadership.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

And the Mets are glad they won’t see Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki until the two teams meet again at Coors Field next month. He homered in four consecutive games at Citi Field, a record at the three-year old park for a visiting or home player. The 26 year old finished the series with a .625 batting average (10-16) with five runs scored, one double, four walks and eight runs batted in.

That was one of the contributing factors that led to New York dropping a twin bill to the Rockies concluding a losing first home stand of the season. They have lost eight of nine, including five straight.  Pitching and defense has not been what manager Terry Collins envisioned as the team embarked on a brief three-game road series in Atlanta.

“We are going to Atlanta and think about what needs to be addressed,” said Collins after a long day at Citi Field .The Mets dropped the first game 6-5, and the nightcap 9-4. The second game was in reach after another two run lead. Then a chopped ground ball to Brad Emas at second, one he could not handle allowed a run to score.

That would lead to more opportunity for the Rockies, who managed to get many of them in the series because of costly miscues by the Mets. Dexter Fowler got a single giving Colorado the 5-4 lead, starter Chris Capuano (1-1) was lifted. And then Taylor Buchholz allowed Jonathan Herrera to hit a three-run homer to right, second of his career.

So the first seven home games at Citi Field have had a recurring theme. The bullpen leaves a lot to be desired, and on the field the Mets are making too many costly mistakes that allowed the opposing team to score and get the win. Earlier this week, Collins admitted it was frustrating. It got worse when he was asked about the losing streak, and how his team played before the home fans the past week after starting the season with a 3-3 road trip at Florida and Philadelphia.

“Depressing,” was the word now used by Collins. “We’re better than this and we’ll play better than this. I still believe we are going to straighten this out. We showed too much promise in spring training. This is not or how we wanted to show our fans.”

However there were some positives in an otherwise dismal Mets clubhouse. Jose Reyes extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a fourth inning two-run single to center field in the second game. He had two triples in the series and is getting on base with the extra base hit.

“We need to play better baseball,” said Reyes when asked if there was any sign of panic with the Mets heading to Atlanta with a 4-9 mark. “We have a better team. A loss is a loss. We need to turn this around.”

The four-game home run streak tied the longest stretch of Tulowitzki’s career. He had a similar streak from September 15-19 in 2009. “I definitely had a good series,” he said. The Rockies doubleheader win extended their best 12 game start (10-2) in franchise history and it was their first road series win on the road against the Mets since May of 2002.

“A lot of times you come on the road, you get down late, sixth, seventh inning,” commented Tulowitzki, “and you shut it down, get ready to go home. This team does not do that at all. We’re a bunch of guys who don’t quit.”

“When he gets hot, he’s a very talented player,” said Rockies manager Jim Tracy about Tulowitzki.  Reyes and the Mets also know that Tulowitzki is a talented player who can make an impact as three of the four games were lost by one run.

New York lost the opener Thursday afternoon, a game that opened the twin bill caused by a Tuesday rain out that was supposed to open the series. In that game Reyes homered closing the gap to 6-3, but Huston Street closed the win for Colorado as R.A. Dickey dropped his second consecutive start after going six innings.

For the Mets, now it is frustration and according to Collins,” We can win 10 in a row, five in a row. That’s baseball. The object is to play better, that’s my job.” It has to get better soon or quickly in April this season will be meaningless come June.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring766@aol.com

Even if the games meant nothing towards post season implications, they had to be played. The Mets are finishing up another dismal campaign, third in the NL east, and the Brewers sitting fourth in the NL central also playing out the string and ready to pack their bags for the winter

Because net receipts from the gate and concessions are so important to the teams, the schedule must be played out. Even if there is a rain out the makeup game gets on the schedule if agreed by the teams this late in the season. With concession stands closed in the upper decks at Citi Field, and the noticeable empty seats it was time to play ball.

When the first pitch was thrown, and for a good part of the first game, fans in the stands and media in the press box could hear sounds of the game. A crack of the bat, fastball in the catcher’s mitt, and even players on the field heard saying “got it” or “go to first.”

“Rather play one game because as a player you are used to preparing for one,” said the Mets Chris Carter.  He would single and drive in two runs in the Mets two-run third inning of the first game. Those in the slim crowd could be heard, as the Mets started to cut the deficit after Niese surrendered six runs in the Milwaukee top of the inning.

That was one perspective of a long afternoon that went into the late evening in Flushing Queens.  The Mets would lose the first game of the double dip, 8-7. Niese (9-10) would throw 2.2 innings, on 10 hits and six runs, The Mets would battle back scoring five more runs in the fourth.

So what about those loyal fans who have once again witnessed another losing season at Citi Field? Carter, a first year Met loves their loyalty. “I love New York fans,” he said. “They’re tough, they know what to expect. I really appreciate the fans. As a player you block out the fact that there is nobody in the stands,” he said.

David Wright would hit a two-run homer in that fourth, his 28^th and third game in a row with a homer, done four other times in his career and now the fifth time he has 100 or more ruins batted in, But he failed to connect in the nightcap when the Mets could not score runs, could only get 5 hits in a 3-1 second game loss.

It was not the 13 hits they had in the first game. Starter R.A. Dickey concluded a successful first season in New York. A surprise who was signed after spring training, Dickey (11-8) was talking about coming back next season. The 35-year old right hander has earned a role to start with a knuckleball that has revived his career.

“Feel I have a lot to offer and age is no consequence,” commented Dickey who gave up six hits in seven innings. “Priority number one was the ability and consistency to throw strikes.” The fans saw what Dickey offered and many times showed their appreciation.

It was a storybook season for a pitcher who got a role when Oliver Perez and John Maine left the rotation, “I feel this is what I can offer over the next five or six years of my career,” said Dickey who certainly can hang around more with a knuckleball that has consistency.

“What impressed me the most was his consistency,” said Mets manager Jerry Manuel who may not be making a decision about Dickey’s role with every expectation that Sunday will be his last game at the helm. “Every time he took the ball, he gave us a chance to win.”

When the first game was over, about 7:40pm, Manuel had used eight pitchers which tied a franchise record for a nine inning game.  The supposed 28,284 in attendance, more about tickets sold, than who showed, made as much noise as they could as the Mets staged another comeback in the eighth inning that once again failed short.

And when the second game began, a half hour later at 8:16PM, many of those empty seats were still visible and another Mets player Carlos Beltran was shut down for the final four games.  Beltran would say the mild inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee would require what the doctor ordered,

“I’m happy, actually the knee’s better, I’m happy for that part” said Beltran who was having a strong September which provided optimism for next season, that is, if the Mets don’t decide to trade him in what would be the final year of a $119 million dollar contract.

“The part that I’m not happy about is just that I wanted to finish the season playing but by the recommendation by the doctor they don’t want me to play.”

Ninth inning of game two and the Mets have one last chance to make this worthwhile in another meaningless game.  The “Cowbell Man” Ed Bison was doing his usual thing in a now almost desolate Citi Field, urging fans for one last push. You would think those doing the chanting were in a late season pennant race with their team.

They did cheer for Pedro Feliciano who pitched in both ends of the doubleheader. The lefthander has 91 appearances this season which extended his franchise record that he established the night before.  And they gave Angel Pagan his usual applause when he swiped his 37^th base of the season in the first inning of game two, becoming the first Mets outfielder with that many since Rickey Henderson and Roger Cedeno in 1999.

Trevor Hoffman the career saves leader got number 601 for the Brewers and Mets fans went home seeing a double dip loss.  New York, (77-81) needs to win their last four games to avoid their second consecutive losing season. Count four, when including the collapses of 2007, 2008, and of course the injury plagued Mets of 2009.

A long day at the ballpark and there are those loyal Mets fans who are willing to be patient about winning again. And the good thing about it, they have a team that knows they are around to give them support even when ballgames mean nothing in late September.

e-mail Rich Mancuso:  Ring786@aol.com

Friday evening at Citi Field, with starter Mike Pelfrey on the mound, New York improved to 16-9 in the first game of a series with their 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. They have won seven straight series openers, 11-2 at their home park.

But when Denard Span hit a game leadoff home run on a 0-1 pitch, the ball traveling and going over the 358 sign in left, Pelfrey made it look like it would be a struggle, from the onset for the Mets to get another opening series win.

“I stayed in there and kept trying to grind,” said Pelfrey (10-2) who got the win in six innings of work. He allowed two runs and six hits and did not walk a batter in getting his sixth win in nine starts at home.  “It was tough” said Pelfrey because that leadoff home run by Span, his third, may have been hard to overcome.

The Twins in a battle for first place with Detroit in the American League central, ahead by a half game coming in, are a tough team to retire. “That team is very good,” said Pelfrey who threw 117 pitches. “They made me work out there and fouled off a lot of pitches.”

But one thing about this Mets team is their resilient approach to come from behind. They did it again against Twins starter Kevin Slowey. They scored three runs in the fourth started by a Jose Reyes soft single, later scoring on a David Wright RBI double.

So Pelfrey had the lead, and the Mets once again played small ball and errorless baseball. Wright would also hit a solo home run in the sixth, off Slowey that gave the Mets their fifth run, his 13^th of the season, and with two more runs batted in has 37 in his last 37 games.

“I’m in a good spot right now, I feel good,” said Wright who came into the game leading the National League in RBI.  “He seems very confident at the plate at this time and that’s a good sign for us,” said Mets manager Jerry Manuel about the resurgence of Wright who hit his third home run at Citi Field this season.

And it is the small ball that has the Mets also feeling confident. They remained a half game behind first place Atlanta as they play game two of the series Saturday afternoon with ace Johan Santana on the mound.

“Small ball in a big ball park” said Manuel.  He added, as was the case in this game, “We won’t give them the momentum,” meaning his team which got their 11^th come from behind win of the season will stay competitive when they don’t score first.

GAME NOTES FROM THE METS:   Carlos Beltran went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk as the designated hitter with St. Lucie of the Florida State League in his second rehabilitation assignment.   Outfielder Angel Pagan, day-to-day with a muscle pull said he feels better and may be in the lineup Saturday.

“Tomorrow I am going to swing and see what happens,” commented Pagan who said that rest, treatment and exercise were a part of the regiment the past two days. Pagan has missed the last two games and is rumored to be a player in a possible trade that would bring pitcher Cliff Lee to the Mets…

Ruben Tejada a natural shortstop, and at second, for the injured Luis Castillo is playing the position well and also connecting at the plate. He extended his hitting streak to nine games with a double in the fifth inning and the streak is the second longest for a rookie in the major leagues this season.

“He is playing with confidence and I am surprised about his ability to play second base,” said Manuel about his rookie that is part of a Mets home grown infield that includes Wright at third, Reyes at short, and Ike Davis at first….

Jason Bay may once again be seeing the ball better and his ability to drive in runs makes the Mets lineup that more potent, as was expected when he was picked up in the off-season. “He’s one of those guys that when he gets hot he gets going,” said Maunel. Bay had a run scoring double in that third inning and has driven in two in the last two games….

With three more scoreless innings of relief the Mets pen has pitched 21.1 scoreless innings dating back to the eighth inning on June 17^th, allowing 15 hits, walking seven and striking out 25.  Francisco Rodriguez got his 17^th save though giving up two singles in the ninth. He also is having some stiffness in his back which prompted Manuel to see him on the mound

Rodriguez admitted it has been something he has been dealing with and he recently took a anti-inflammatory shot. Manuel sees no reason for concern though speculation persists that the Rodriguez failure to get through an easy inning may be attributed to the stiffness.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

Last week in San Diego the Padres would victimize the Mets in their last at bat. But this is Citi Field where the Mets tied a season high ninth straight win at home, their major league leading 23^rd win at home, and it was done on an Ike Davis career first game ending home run leading off the 11^th.

And Mets manager Jerry Manuel may have the answer as to the fortunes of his team winning at home as opposed to losing their share of games away from Citi Field. “We’ve played extremely well here,’ said Manuel. “We’re confident here.” New York is 4-0 on the current home stand coming off a three-game sweep over the Florida Marlins.

Confident enough to have the rookie Davis lead off the inning and get the walk-off on a 1-1 pitch that reached the second deck to right field. It was a splitter thrown by padres’ relief pitcher Edward Mujica, (2-1) who got the loss.

“I was trying to hit the ball in the gaps somewhere and maybe get to second base and have someone bunt me over,” said Davis about the situation who was mobbed by teammates at home plate after running the bases..

“He hung the splitter. I saw it pretty early and put a good spin on it.” It was the 7^th home run of the season for the Mets rookie who had been struggling at the plate, batting .196 over his last 12 games.

Before the home run it was another interesting game at home for the Mets. Also another impressive outing for starter Mike Pelfrey (8-1) who did not figure in the decision after allowing one run on five hits He became the first Mets pitcher this season to go nine innings.

The only run allowed by Pelfrey was in the first inning, an RBI double to Adrian Gonzalez. Pelfrey over his last five starts has a 1.19 ERA and has pitched with confidence, finally becoming a pitcher the Mets got when they drafted him as their number one pick in 2005.  Pelfrey also knows how to win at Cit Field, 4-1 with a 2.71 ERA in six starts at home this season.

He was able to keep the score tied after Jose Reyes evened things up with his second home run in the seventh, a two out drive to left that was reviewed by the umpires after the ball bounded above the orange line that runs along the wall.  He managed to strand Padres runners at second base in the eighth and ninth innings that got on base with one out.

“ I looked at it that we’ve got guys at second base, so what,” said Pelfrey about keeping the score tied ,with hopes the Mets would get him a win in their half of the eighth or ninth.  “I’m not going to let him score,” he said.

Manuel added about Pelfrey, “He’s now developed enough to become a good pitcher.  The bullpen also kept the Mets close. Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless tenth, Pedro Felicano in the 11^th and Elmer Dessens (1-1) who struck out the only batter he faced earning his first win since August 26, 2007 against Washington.

“He’s come in some tough situations and given us some good outs,” commented Manuel about Dessens, now with six consecutive scoreless outings since his recall in late May.

Now if the Mets can only get wins on the road. Their next road trip after this series takes them to Baltimore and Cleveland, two of the worse teams in the American League.  We’ve been in a lot of games on the road,” said Pelfrey when asked about the disparity of the Mets home and road record. “Bad breaks,” he said.

Not at home though, as the breaks and now walk off wins keep the Mets rolling at Citi Field.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

The one heart-stopping moment occurred with one out in the bottom of the third inning. You want to take it back. You think of him. You think of his family.  Men were on base and Alex Rodriguez was at the plate. Rodriguez lined a fastball up the middle that was deflected off the area above the left ear of Cleveland hurler David Huff. The 25 year-old immediately hit the ground with his face down. Although two runs scored and the Yanks were ahead 3-0, the attention of everyone in the ballpark was riveted upon the fallen pitcher. Cleveland infielders and training staff rushed to the mound. Rodriguez, with a stunned look of horror on his face, approached the mound.

Huff was tended to by trainers and emergency workers. He was taken on a stretcher from the field. While leaving the field, Huff raised his hand with a thumbs up salute to the cheers of the concerned fans. The sophomore major league hurler, whose first game was little more than a year ago, May 17, 2009, was taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital for a CT scan. The scan was negative, and he remained at the hospital for a short while before returning to Yankee Stadium.

Rodriguez, a sensitive man, was on his way to the hospital to the visit the pitcher when the game ended, but was called back because hull was already returning. A-Rod’s statement delivered to reporters by Jason Zillo, the media relations director of the Yankees, included the following  words, “Your heart stops. You’re scared. You want to take it back. You think of him. You think of his family. When something like that happens, you think of things so much bigger than throwing or hitting a baseball.” Yankee manager Joe Girardi, commented upon the incident after the contest, “We all know how hard a baseball is and at that velocity. You’re frightened for him. Our prayers are with that young man.”

Older and knowledgeable people in the ballpark immediately thought of another frightening incident that took place in a Yanks-Indians game 43 years and 22 days earlier. Cleveland hurler Herb Score, in the third season of what appeared to be a magnificent career, was hit in the face by a line drive off the bat of Yankees infielder Gil McDougal. Several bones in Score’s face were broken and he missed the rest of the 1957 season. Whether because of that injury or one that later occurred, Score’s playing career ended prematurely and unsuccessfully. He began a lengthy and a heralded broadcasting career with the Indians in 1964 that lasted through the 1997 season.

Hopefully, Huff and Rodriguez will be able to put the incident in the past, physically and emotionally.

The two hottest hitters on the Yanks, Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher, combined to score the first two runs of the contest in the second. Cano led off the inning with an infield single and scored two pitches later as Swisher blasted his seventh homer of the month into the rightfield stands. After the contest, he commented on the scoring, “The good thing for us is we put some runs on the board and tacked on some more as the game went on. We’ve been scratching and clawing for runs lately.”

The two were also in the middle of the run-run Yankee sixth. After Mark Teixeira walked, Cano singled to center. Swisher followed with another single up the middle. Designated hitter Juan Miranda drew a bases loaded walk to score the first tally of the frame. The second run scored on a sacrifice fly to left by the next batter, Brett Gardner.

The first three Yankees batters reached base in the seventh. Derek Jeter beat out his second infield single of the game. Curtis Granderson, in his first game in the lineup since May 1, doubled to center. Teixeira drew a base on balls to load the sacks. Cano, the A.L. Player of the Month in April, started the month of May with a slump, but has again has been hitting torridly. Cano entered the contest with 15 hits in his last 36 official at bats. He continued the recent pace by driving in four runs with a grand slam to right.

Cano’s recent offensive performances have earned him the spot as clean-up hitter in the absence of Alex Rodriguez in the lineup on Friday. It was the first time in his Yankee career that Cano has batted fourth. After the homer, he remarked, “It’s good to feel what it’s like to be the clean-up hitter.”

The offensive onslaught was not the only Yankees change in its recent play. Starter Phil Hughes reverted to his early season excellence. After two less than impressive starts, Hughes began the game looking un-hittable. He struck out the first five batters he faced. He surrendered his first hit, a double by shortstop Jason Donald, with two out in the third.  Hughes gave up his first run of the game during a shaky fourth inning by Hughes. After retiring seven consecutive batters, Hughes gave up his second run on a lead-off homer by first baseman Russell Branyan in the seventh. His use of his off-speed pitches was quite effective. Yankees skipper Joe Girardi said, “He did a batter with his pitch count today…he was able to put people away.”

Each pitched six successful innings without surrendering a run. Takahashi exceeded his expected pitch count of 85 by throwing 101 pitches, 73 for strikes. He gave up five hits and walked one batter. He faced threats in only the third and fourth innings. He walked Francisco Cervelli to open the third. Kevin Russo followed with a single to center, his first Major League hit. Vazquez sacrificed the baserunners to second and third, but the Japanese born hurler retired the next two batters, Derek Jeter and Brett Gardner. The Yanks threatened again in the following inning. With one out Alex Rodriguez beat out a single and moved to third on a double by Robinson Cano. Takahashi, as in the previous inning, retired two batters to end the rally without a score.

After the contest, Yankees skipper Joe Girardi commented about Takahashi, “You have to tip your hat to their pitcher. He made some good pitches when he had to.” Jerry Manuel said of his starter, “He pitched very well. He’s in the rotation.”

Vazquez was even more impressive on the mound than his opponent. He did not give up his first hit until 4.1 innings had passed. Angel Pagan singled to center in the fifth, but was erased in a double play on the next play. The only other baserunner was Alex Cora, who walked in the first and fourth innings. Cora, in the first, was the only runner to remain on base at the conclusion of an inning pitched by Vazquez. He was thrown out trying to steal in the fourth.

Vazquez ended his time on the mound unexpectedly. In the top of the seventh, in his attempt to deliver a sacrifice but Vazquez was bruised above the right index finger. He successfully sacrificed, but when removing his batting glove in the dugout noticed his finger was bleeding. Vazquez spoke about the rare accident, “I’m pretty embarrassed because I’ve been doing these things for a long time in the National League, and this never happened.” Vazquez has more than 600 plate appearances in the majors. He has bunted for sacrifices 96 times, including the two on Friday. Vazquez was confident that he will not miss time because of the injury, “I’m pretty sure I’ll make my next start.”

He spoke optimistically to reporters about his improved work on the mound, “I feel pretty good, but I’m still working on some things. I’m making more quality pitches out there, especially the fast ball.” Vazquez has only given up two earned runs in his latest two starts, a total of 13 innings pitched. Mets manager Manuel credited him for a job well done, “He kept us off balance. He executed pitches when he had to. Javy had good stuff, and when you have good stuff you can stop the batting.”

The outcome was decided in the Yankees seventh. Swisher led off the inning with a single to center. A potential double-play ball hit by Cervelli was thrown away by second baseman Alex Cora. Russo hit a double to right for his first extra-base hit and first runs batted in as Major League player.

Russo, a 25 year-old native of West Babylon, thrilled his brother, niece and all the Yankees fans in attendance with his clutch batting heroics. After the game, he recounted his emotions, “The first hit was great, my first major league hit. The second hit at the end, it turned out to be the bigger hit so they were both great. I was just trying to get a run in. I knew it was a sacrifice fly opportunity and luckily I got that hit. I was just trying to drive in one run and luckily I got two. I’m just glad I could contribute and help out the team.”

The jeers of the crowd and the ineffective pitching have been a part of each of the veteran’s starts at Yankee Stadium this year. Two of the runs on Saturday came on homers by slugger Andruw Jones. The solo shots by Jones in the first and third innings were the third game this season during which the veteran slugger hit more than one home run. It was his 40^th multi-homer game in his lengthy career in the majors. Home runs are not a stranger to Vazquez. He has given up eight of the 19 surrendered by the New York staff. The other four Yankees starters, CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes, have given up a combined total of only five home runs. Those unimpressive numbers are on pace to surpass the 33 round trippers he yielded in 2004 with the Yankees. Vazquez’s other stats are also disappointing to Yankees fans. In 23 innings pitched in his five starts, the righty gave up 32 hits and 25 runs. His ERA is currently at 9.78.

The reasons for the lack of success of the veteran hurler, now in his 13^th Major league season, are not easy to discern. After Saturday’s contest, Yankees skipper Joe Girardi told reporters, “He struggled again. It’s a difficult part of the game. A lot of it (99.9 %) is miss-location, which is mechanical.” Of the mental part caused by pressing, Girardi commented, “Players can sometimes make a slump longer than it should be.” Of the fans growing disenchantment with the   performances of the Puerto Rican native, Girardi said, “If you pitch the way you are capable of, anyone can turn it [Fan’s support] around.”

When the outspoken manager of the Chicago White Sox, Ozzie Guillen, was asked his opinion of Vazquez’s lack of success in 2010, he responded, “He’s throwing balls, not strikes. You can’t do that, especially in the American League. They don’t let you get away with mistakes in this league.”

As soon as the game concluded, reporters surrounded Vazquez in the spacious Yankees clubhouse to obtain his opinions of his latest mound performance, “I’m working on everything.  I feel good. I’m just not getting it done when it counts. I might be trying too hard because I want to be good. It’s not easy when you’re struggling out there. You have to keep your head up, but it’s not easy.”

Vazquez said he understood the booing of the fans of the team, “When you’re not doing good, they’re going to boo you.” Vazquez was also questioned about having to change his glove in the fourth inning because it was considered to be illegal as it was two-toned. “I’ve used that glove for years. It caught me off-guard, but that’s not the responsible for what happened out there. I just changed my glove and went out there.”

Vazquez has been the winner of 143 Major League contests. How his performances can be improved this season is not clear. How long management of the team will continue to allow Vazquez to start games without a big improvement in his performances is yet to be determined. Five relief pitchers were used to follow Vazquez in Saturday. The overuse of the relief corps   forced management to recall pitcher Mark Melancon on Saturday night to replace outfielder Curtis Granderson on the roster.

The sad saga of Vazquez still continues. On Monday the Yankees decided to skip Vazquez in the rotation and bypassed him in the upcoming Red Sox series up in Boston this weekend. Under the normal movement of the starting rotation, the next start for Vazquez would have been scheduled on Thursday an off-day.

It was unexpected power from the Mets who hit the fewest home runs in baseball last year. Since the opening day home run from David Wright on Monday, New York had gone 28 innings without hitting a long ball and it was the first time in the brief history at Citi Field that two Mets players had multi home runs games. Right hander Mike Pelfrey had an impressive first outing of the season pitching six innings, allowing four hits on two runs.

“We knew we had some guys with that type of power,” said Mets manager Jerry Manuel.  “We needed to get some swings and pull it out of the park.  It is important for our team that we can score some runs quickly,” the manger added about how the Mets came from behind and used the home run ball to even theiur record at 2-2 on their first home stand of the season.

Pelfrey, who struggled all of last season with his concentration on the mound was able to stay out of trouble and was satisfied with his first outing. So was Manuel who said, “I thought he controlled the strike zone and got in a little bit of trouble and stayed on the mound.”

“Feel more under control of myself and I am not letting things bother me,” said Pelfrey about the difference from last year where he left emotions get to him when he was on the mound.

New York optioned shortstop Ruben Tejada to Triple A Buffalo after the game to make room for Jose Reyes who will return to action Saturday after a short stint on the disabled. Tejada recorded his first Major league hit in the top of the eighth inning.

Oliver Perez makes his first start for New York in game two of the series Saturday opposing Washington lefty (0-1) John Laanan