Leiter, Mets turn back Yankees in Subway Series opener, 9-3

The Mets snapped a seven-game losing streak against their cross-town rivals.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK -- On the opening day of this year's Subway Series, Al Leiter and the New York Mets were the top team in town.
Leiter escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and the Mets beat up rookie Brad Halsey in a six-run fourth that propelled them past the Yankees 9-3 on Saturday.
In his first major league game against Hideki Matsui, Kaz Matsui -- who is not related -- hit a two-run single that opened up a 6-2 lead. Jose Reyes had a big single and a key stolen base, and every Mets starter except Mike Cameron had a hit.
The Mets finished with 12 hits and stopped a seven-game losing streak against their crosstown rival, pulling back to .500 at 36-36.
Derek Jeter, celebrating his 30th birthday, was a quiet 2-for-4 for the Yankees, who are 24-13 against the Mets in the regular season since interleague play began in 1997. Alex Rodriguez, in his first game against the Mets since he was dealt to the Yankees last winter, was 0-for-5 and stranded seven runners, including five on second or third. Overall, the Yankees were just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
The teams play a day-night doubleheader today to make up Friday's rainout, with Jose Contreras starting the opener for the Yankees -- his first appearance since reuniting with his family, which defected from Cuba earlier in the week.
Gary Sheffield, who missed three starts because of bursitis in his left shoulder, hit a two-run homer for the Yankees and Hideki Matsui had a solo shot. Cliff Floyd hit a long solo homer for the Mets in the seventh.
NEW YORKNEW YORK
abrhbiabrhbi
Reyes 2b5111BWllms cf3120
Matsui ss5122Jeter ss4020
Piazza dh4121ARdrgz 3b5000
Floyd lf5111Shffield dh2112
Spncer lf0000JaGbi 1b4000
Hidalgo rf4121Posada c3000
Cmeron cf3100Matsui lf3111
Wggntn 3b5110Sierra rf4000
Zeile 1b2120Cairo 2b3000
JPhllps c4112Lofton ph1000
Totals379128Totals32363
New York020600100--9
New York002100000--3
E--Posada (7). DP--New York 1, New York 1. LOB--New York 9, New York 9. 2B--Piazza (16), JPhillips (12), BWilliams (12), Jeter (16). HR--Floyd (8), Sheffield (11), Matsui (14). SB--Reyes (1), Matsui (11), Wigginton (3). SF--JPhillips.
IPHRERBBSO
New York
Leiter W,3-26 1-353345
Bottalico1 2-300021
Parra110001
New York
Halsey L,1-13 1-357654
Sturtze4 1-362202
Heredia1 1-310011
HBP--by Bottalico (Posada), by Sturtze (Cameron).
Umpires--Home, Gary Darling; First, Brian Runge; Second, Bill Hohn; Third, Mark Carlson. T--3:21. A--55,303.
Phillies 9, Red Sox 2
BOSTON -- Jim Thome hit his major league-leading 26th home run and the Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of a season-high four Boston errors to score five unearned runs.
A day after Boston broke out with an eight-run inning and 12 runs in all -- Philadelphia's worst loss of the season -- the Phillies responded with a big inning of their own. They scored five in the fourth to break open the game -- four unearned, thanks to errors by pitcher Bronson Arroyo and first baseman Kevin Millar.
Johnny Damon had two errors for Boston. He had only one error last season, and the same in 2002.
Thome's homer was his 14th of the month, one shy of the franchise record set by Cy Williams in May, 1923. Bobby Abreu reached base four different ways: on a walk, single, error and hit by pitch.
Randy Wolf, who had been on the disabled list since June 6 with left elbow tendinitis, was activated before the game and limited to 74 pitches. He left after four innings with a 7-1 lead, having allowed one run on seven hits and a walk while striking out three.
Ryan Madson (5-2) allowed four hits and struck out four in 21/3 innings.
Bronson Arroyo (2-7) allowed seven runs -- just two earned -- on seven hits and three walks. He struck out five in five innings to lose for the sixth time in as many starts.
Manny Ramirez, who went 3-for-4 with a homer and five RBIs on Friday night, had two of Boston's 14 hits, including an RBI double. The Phillies had only 13 hits, but made them count.
In a rare showing of strength for Fenway visitors, Phillies fans chanted Thome's name during his at-bats and cheered when he homered in the fourth.
It was his 10th homer in 13 interleague games this year -- and his 44 since interleague play began in 1997 is the most in the majors.
PHILABOSTON
abrhbiabrhbi
Rollins ss5112Damon cf5120
Planco 2b4010Bllhorn 2b5010
BAbreu rf3111DOrtiz dh4010
Thome dh4112MRmrz lf4021
Burrell lf5010McCty lf1000
Utley 1b4220Grcprr ss4000
DaBell 3b5110Crespo ss0000
Mchels cf5231Millar 1b4020
Pratt c5121Varitek c3020
Mrbelli c1100
Yukilis 3b4020
Kapler rf4021
Totals409137Totals392142
Philadelphia020500200--9
Boston001000010--2
E--Damon 2 (4), Millar (4), Arroyo (1). DP--Philadelphia 1. LOB--Philadelphia 10, Boston 11. 2B--DaBell (17), MRamirez (23), Varitek (12), Kapler (8). HR--Thome (26). S--Polanco.
IPHRERBBSO
Philadelphia
Wolf471113
Madson W,5-22 1-340004
Cormier1 2-331101
Worrell100001
Boston
Arroyo L,2-7577235
Dinardo1 2-342212
Leskanic1 1-320001
Timlin100002
HBP--by Dinardo (BAbreu). WP--Dinardo.
Umpires--Home, Ed Rapuano; First, Ted Barrett; Second, Rick Reed; Third, Kevin Kelley. T--3:11. A--34,712.
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