Great Games From The Subway Series

Since interleague play started 12 years ago, there has been no better inner-city rivalry than that of the Yankees and the Mets. Since 1962. when the Mets first burst onto the New York baseball scene, fans from the Bronx and Queens have been debating endlessly over who has the better team. There is no question, that when you look at championships won, hall of famers, and post-season appearances, the Yankees hold the edge. But they've also been around a lot longer.

With this weekend's Subway Series tilt, the first one at the new Yankee Stadium, I decided to take a look back at some of the great games and moments played between these two teams. If you have anything you like to share: moments, memories, comments, or if there is anything I left out, feel free to e-mail TheDailyMoose@gmail.com.

Photo from www.cnycentral.com

June 16, 1997- Mets 6, Yankees 0 at Yankee Stadium

This is the game that started it all. Dave Mlicki, a mediocre pitcher at best, pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only two walks while striking out eight, in drawing first blood in the first ever regular season game played between these two teams. Andy Pettite opposed him and allowed five runs in seven innings. John Olerud was the star for the Mets and 3-5, scoring one run and adding three RBI's.

June 18, 1997- Yankees 3, Mets 2 at Yankee Stadium

In the rubber game of their first interleague match up, David Cone pitched a no-hitter through six innings, before John Olerud ended his bid with a double in the seventh inning. Tino Martinez ended the game when he hit a single off Met closer John Franco in the 10th inning, scoring Paul O'Neill. Despite finishing with a no decision, Cone allowed two runs and two hits over eight innings and he struck out 11.

June 28, 1998- Mets 2, Yankees 1 at Shea Stadium

This game ended in a wild fashion. With Brian McRae on first base and Carlos Baerga on third, and the game tied at one in the bottom of the ninth, Luis Lopez stepped to the plate. He flied out to Paul O'Neill in right for the second out, and O'Neill rifled a throw to first base to try and double up McRae. At the same time, Baerga broke for home and as the home plate umpire ruled Baerga safe, the first base umpire ruled McRae out. Bobby Valentine, the Mets manager at the time, came out to argue and after an umpire conference, the Mets won the ballgame 2-1 as Shea Stadium roared.

July 10, 1999- Mets 9, Yankees 8 at Shea Stadium

With the Mets down 6-4 in the bottom of the 7th, Mike Piazza hit a three run blast off Ramiro Mendoza that landed in the picnic area to give the Mets a brief 7-6 lead. Jorge Posada took the lead back for the Yankees with his second home run of the game in the 8th. Facing an 0-2 count against Yankee closer Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the 9th, Matt Franco ripped a line drive to right field which easily scored Rickey Henderson. Edgardo Alfonso was also rounding the bases and he beat out Paul O'Neill's throw to win the game for the Mets.

July 8, 2000- Game 1: Yankees 4, Mets 2 at Shea, Game 2: Yankees 4, Mets 2 at Yankee Stadium

It had been 100 years since the first day-night double header in two different ballparks, but on this day, the Mets-Yankees rivalry was solidified as a different kind of history was made. In Game 1, Tino Martinez went 3-4 with a home run and three RBI's to help the Yankees to a 4-2 victory. Game 2, however, will forever be known as the low point of Roger Clemens career. Despite the Yankees winning 4-2, Clemens intentionally threw at Mike Piazza's head, knocking him to the ground and taking him out of the game with a concussion. Piazza had good numbers against the steroid user and took him deep during the few games they faced each other.

October 21, 2000- Yankees 4, Mets 3 at Yankee Stadium. (Game 1 of the World Series)

Al Leiter and Andy Pettite both pitched scoreless innings until the bottom of the sixth when Yankee slugger David Justice hit a two-run double to give the Yanks a 2-0 lead. Edgardo Alfonso had put the Mets on top in the seventh inning, but Chuck Knoblauch went on to tie the game in the ninth when he managed to hit a sacrifice fly off Met closer Armando Benitez. The game would go 12 innings and ended when Jose Vizcaino drove in Tino Martinez with his fourth hit of the game. The Yankees would go on to win the World Series that year in five games.

June 15, 2002- Mets 8, Yankees 0 at Shea Stadium

This game was hyped up all week long as it would be the first time Roger Clemens would bat in Shea Stadium. Clemens stepped up to the plate looking like a prisoner on death row who knows his time has come. Mets hurler Shawn Estes let his pitch fly and it went behind Clemens, missing him totally, as many fans in attendance who expected retaliation for the Mike Piazza incident booed. Those boos would turn to cheers as both Estes and Piazza took Clemens deep in an 8-0 win. Estes struck out 11 Yankees over seven innings.

June 28, 2003- Game 1: Yankees 7, Mets 1 at Yankee Stadium, Game 2: Yankees 9, Mets 8 at Shea Stadium

Game 1 was uneventful as Roger Clemens beat the Mets for his 301st career victory. He pitched eight innings, striking out seven and allowing one earned run. In Game 2, the Yankees stormed out to a 9-0 lead, but it almost slipped away. Home runs by Roger Cedeno and Ty Wiggington and a three run double by Raul Gonzalez off Mariano Rivera in the 8th, cut the Yankee lead to 9-8. Rivera struck out Wiggington to end the game and Brendan Claussen won in his major league debut. The Yankees won all six games of the Subway Series that year.

July 3, 2004- Mets 10, Yankees 9 at Shea Stadium.

Shane Spencer hit a dribbler between the pitchers mound and first base with the bases loaded to give the Mets the victory over his former team. The Mets came from behind at three different times during the game.

July 4, 2004- Mets 6, Yankees 5 at Shea Stadium

George Steinbrenner was in attendance for his 74th birthday as the Mets took his cake and ate it too. Ty Wiggington had two home runs: the first was a two run blast that gave the Mets a 3-0 lead in the second and the other was a solo shot off Yankee reliever Tom Gordon in the 8th. The Mets swept a three game series for the first time against the Yankees that year.