Associated Press
NEW YORK ó Down to their last strike against Mariano Rivera, the New York Mets wouldnít wilt. And when Jason Bay lined a game-winning single in the 10th inning, an elated Jose Reyes found himself leaping around in the clubhouse.
All in all, that might have been the best sign of the day for the feisty Mets.
Pinch-hitter Ronny Paulino came through with a tying single off Rivera, Bay drove home the winning run and the Mets ended the New York Yankeesí seven-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory Sunday.
ěI was jumping right here. I was watching right here,î Reyes said in front of his locker. ěThatís a huge win for us.î
Playing without their ailing shortstop, the Mets were shut down by Freddy Garcia for seven innings before rallying against Rivera in the ninth to avoid a Subway Series sweep at Citi Field.
With two outs and nobody on in the ninth, Bay walked on a full count. He went to third on Lucas Dudaís single and scored the tying run when Paulino punched a 1-2 pitch through the right side.
ěI was just trying to put the ball in play,î Paulino said. ěShorten my swing and get a good pitch to hit.î
Rivera, selected for his 12th All-Star team earlier in the day, dropped his head on the mound after his fourth blown save in 25 chances this season.
Ruben Tejada then hit a sharp grounder that scooted under the glove of fill-in shortstop Ramiro Pena for an error, and Duda tried to score from second. With fans of both teams in a frenzy, left fielder Brett Gardner came up throwing and cut down Duda at the plate to send the game to extra innings.
ěItís the highest high and the lowest low, probably for the fans, too. But itís twice as bad in the dugout,î Bay said. ěThat game, there was a lot going on.î
Pinch-hitter Scott Hairston drew a leadoff walk from Luis Ayala (1-2) in the 10th and the Mets loaded the bases when Pena booted Daniel Murphyís slow grounder with two outs.
Hector Noesi entered to face Bay, who lined an 0-1 pitch into right-center for a single. Hairston raised his fist as he crossed the plate and Bay, stuck in a two-year slump since signing a $66 million contract with the Mets, was mobbed by teammates on the infield.
ěIíve been through a lot of ups and downs. A lot more downs,î Bay said after the Mets stopped a three-game skid. ěIt was nice, A, to be in that spot and, B, to come through. It was great.î
Francisco Rodriguez (2-2) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.
ěGive them credit. They battled against Mo in the ninth and got it done later,î Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira said.
Gardner tripled off Jason Isringhausen in the eighth and scored on a sacrifice fly by All-Star starter Curtis Granderson, giving the Yankees a 2-1 lead.
ěItís a frustrating loss for us,î manager Joe Girardi said.
Reyes sat out as the Mets anxiously awaited MRI results on his tight left hamstring. The test revealed a Grade 1 strain, the mildest kind, and he might be able to return to the lineup in a few days.
ěItís a big relief,î teammate Carlos Beltran said. ěWe depend so much on him.î
Reyes, elected by fans to start for the National League in the All-Star game July 12, left Saturdayís loss after two innings. But the news Sunday was a positive sign.
ěJust a little bit of a strain. I mean, nothing big,î Reyes said. ěI know weíre going to take it one day at a time and see what happens, but itís real good news. Today when I got up, I felt even better than yesterday. So thatís very good news.î