Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Robinson Cano hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning and the New York Yankees touched up R.A. Dickey for five runs in a 6-5 victory over the Mets on Sunday night.
Nick Swisher had an early three-run shot against Dickey, who was coming off consecutive one-hitters -- making him the first major league pitcher in 24 years to accomplish that feat. But in a much-anticipated matchup at sold-out Citi Field, both he and Yankees ace CC Sabathia were missing their best stuff.
Leading off the eighth, Cano drove a 2-0 delivery from Miguel Batista (1-2) over the home run apple in straightaway center for his 16th homer and fifth in seven games. Taking advantage of a shaky Mets bullpen again, the Yankees won the final two games of the weekend by one run to finish 5-1 against their crosstown rivals this season.
Including a sweep in the Bronx earlier this month, the Yankees have won five consecutive series against the Mets since May 2010.
The talk of the town lately, Dickey was riding an unprecedented roll of dominance that rivaled any in baseball history. But the knuckleballer had an uncharacteristic bout of wildness against the homer-happy Yankees and lasted only six innings. He walked three, hit a batter and threw his first wild pitch of the season.
Sabathia, also coming off a complete game with double-digit strikeouts, gave up nine hits in 52Ž3 innings. He was betrayed by his defense while
Boone Logan (2-0) gave the Yankees another splendid performance out of the bullpen, and David Robertson retired Ruben Tejada with a runner on third to end the eighth. Rafael Soriano worked a scoreless ninth in the rain for his 15th save in 16 chances.
The Yankees have won 14 of their last 18 road games.
Dickey received a big ovation during pregame introductions and sent a smiling Alex Rodriguez sprawling to the dirt with a high-and-tight pitch in the first -- perhaps the first time the three-time MVP has been buzzed with a knuckleball.
Dickey used his bat and legs to help the Mets get started on their comeback from a four-run deficit. He singled off Sabathia in the fifth and hustled home from second on David Wright’s two-out RBI single.
The 37-year-old pitcher slid into Chris Stewart at the plate, getting a face full of catcher’s mitt and jarring the ball loose as his helmet was knocked off his head.
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