New York Mets 7 New York Yankees 6 (May 19, 2006)

What will go down as yet another classic in the Subway Series started off as a slopfest. Gonzalez, filling in for John Maine (who in turn was filling in for either Brian Bannister or Victor Zambrano, take your pick), lasted one batter into the fourth inning. He was charged with all six Yankee runs, a biproduct of nine hits (four doubles) and three walks. Darren Oliver allowed one inherited runner to score, but otherwise got the Mets through five inning without further harm done.

Meanwhile, the Big Unit was the big disappointment. Johnson gave up a three run bomb to Carlos Beltran in the bottom of the first, cutting into his previously comfortable four run lead. Two innings later, Xavier Nady knotted the game at five with a two run blast off Johnson. Johnson lasted but five innings, giving up six runs on eight hits while walking three.

The Mets bullpen was phenominal. Aaron Heilman tossed three perfect innings, striking out three. Billy Wagner, who got the win, capped the night with a perfect ninth, striking out Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriguez, and Kelly Stinnett (who replaced the injured Jorge Posada earlier in the game) on four pitches apiece.

The Yankees middle relief was also strong, with Scott Proctor and Kyle Farnsworth combining for three innings of shutout work, giving up a lone walk to Jose Reyes who was subsequently caught stealing. It was Mariano Rivera, however, who was not so strong.

Rivera won the battle with Reyes, inducing a pop out to shortstop. Then, after getting ahead of Paul Lo Duca, the Met catcher drove a double to left. Beltran struck out, and with two outs and first base open, Joe Torre opted to walk Carlos Delgado intentionally to get to David Wright. Rivera got ahead of him as well, but Wright carried the day, driving the ball to deep center field. Lo Duca scored easily, Wright was credited with a single, and the Mets took the first game of the series, 7-6.