Mets Recap: The Wheels came off, but the Mets power to victory

Mets360.com

Zack Wheeler didn't have his best game, but the Mets offense made that a limiting factor as they swept the two games at Yankee Stadium after Tuesday's 12-7 victory over the Yankees.

Wheeler was torched for four runs through four innings of work before the Mets padded their lead with four runs in the fifth inning.  Armed with a seven run lead, Terry Collins sent Wheeler back out so he could pitch the minimum five innings needed for the win.  The Yankees saw to it that Wheeler wouldn't get that far, getting a walk, two singles and a run scored to bring an end to Wheeler's night at 118 pitches in only 4 1/3rd innings worked.

Dice-K in relief was able to retire the next two batters to end the Yankee threat.

Wheeler's final line wasn't pretty.  He gave up seven hits and six walks, leading to five runs, all earned, as his ERA blossomed to 4.53 in the no-decision.

His counterpart, Vidal Nuño, fared no better.  He gave up seven runs on four hits and four walks, five of which were earned, in 3 1/3rd innings pitched, as he was tagged with the loss.

Four-bagger City: The Mets hitters wish they could play all their games at Yankee Stadium.  Entering the two-game set in the Bronx, the Mets had 22 total home runs for the season, one of the worst in the Majors. They have six during the Subway Series alone.

Granderstate: Two of those home runs was from Curtis Granderson, who looked comfortable in his old home, going 4 for 8 at the plate the last two games.  He now has hit safely in 10 of his last 13 games, and now has left the proverbial interstate as his batting average has peaked above the .200 Mendoza line, now at .205 for the season.

RISPY Business: The Mets were 6 for 14 with runners in scoring position on Tuesday, just two days after they went 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position through the first eight innings against Philadelphia before they made their wild comeback in the ninth.

New York's Team: The New York Mets have now won six straight against the Yankees dating back to the start of last year's Subway Series.  That's a contrast to in 2012, when the Yankees won five of the six games, and in 2011 when they won four of the six against the Mets.  But now the Mets must keep the momentum flowing as they return to Citi Field for the start of the pair of games in the Queens.

It won't be easy.  The Yankees send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound, who has been excellent so far this season.  The Yankees are 6-1 when he's on the mound, with the only loss being a no-decision against Baltimore in his second start, when he went seven innings, striking out ten.  He holds a 2.57 ERA, and with a pitcher's friendly park such as Citi Field, runs will be at a premium for the Mets.

The Mets send Rafael Montero for his first big league start.  Montero went 4-1 for the Las Vegas 51s, with an Earned Run Average of 3.67.  He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in his last start against Salt Lake before a high pitch count forced the end of his night.