Reyes Shoots Down the Rocket

Roger Clemens threw a very effective 6 1-3 innings and the Yankee bullpen was solid. But Clemens couldn't get out Jose Reyes and the Yankees offense went into a slumber against Mets starter Oliver Perez (7-5). The outcome was a 2-0 Mets win that snapped their 5 game losing streak and the Yankee's 9 game winning streak. The Yankees also dropped a game in the AL East and the wild card as both the Red Sox and Tigers won.

Tonight's game was the Jose Reyes show. Reyes was 3-3 with a pair of singles, an upper deck home run, 3 stolen bases, a walk, and drove in both Mets runs. He showed why is he is so dangerous once he reaches base.

Carlos Gomez also showed a lot of speed and he ignited the Met's first run in the 3rd inning. Clemens (1-1) had escaped a two-on, no out jam in the 1st, but when Gomez bunted his way on and stole 2nd, the Rocket had to face Reyes again. Having already singled in the 1st, Reyes took a pitch back up the middle for an RBI and a 1-0 lead.

The Yankees had early chances against Perez, but couldn't capitalize. Derek Jeter singled in the 1st and advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch, but Perez struck out Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez. The Yankees loaded the bases with two down in the 2nd, but Melky Cabrera flied out.

Abreu was stranded at 2nd in the 3rd, but the Yankees came right back again against Perez in the 4th. Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano drew back-to-back walks, but free swinging Josh Phelps chased some bad pitches and flew to right. Miguel Cairo also became the hero when he drove one to deep left, but a leaping Gomez took away, at the very least, an extra base hit, and doubled off Matsui who apparently had a brain cramp.

In the 5th Reyes struck again and struck hard, hitting a Clemens offering off the facing of the upper deck in right. It was Reyes' 3rd HR of the season and 30th RBI. Clemens started the 7th by retiring Julio Franco, who is actually older than the Rocket, but he was pulled after Gomez's 2nd bunt single of the game. Luis Vizcaino, Mike Myers, and Brian Bruney combined for 2 2-3 scoreless innings, but the Yankees still couldn't push a run across.

Perez, who got the Yankees to swing at bad pitches all night, was finally knocked from the game with one out in the 8th when Derek Jeter doubled to right. But Pedro Feliciano retired Abreu on a deep drive to center, and Joe Smith got A-Rod to ground out sharply to 3rd. Billy Wagner came on and breezed through the 9th, striking out a pair for his 15th save.

~~~

David Wright extended his hitting streak to 16 games, while Abreu's streak ended at 13. Derek Jeter has hit in 10 straight, the 3rd time this season he has reached double figures.

Clemens' final line - 6.1 IP 7 H 2 ER 1 BB 8 K