Sun Jun 29 16:54:14 2008

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Perez pitches Mets past Yankees

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Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Luis Castillo finished 3-for-5 and knocked in a run, while Oliver Perez threw seven strong innings as the New York Mets clipped the New York Yankees 3-1 in the finale of the four-game Subway Series from Shea Stadium.

Carlos Delgado homered and David Wright also drove in a run for the Mets, who earned a split in the set and halted a two-game losing skid.

Perez (6-5) allowed just three hits and one run, tying a season high with eight strikeouts with no walks. It was the second time this season Perez has won a start against the Yankees, following his 7 2/3 inning performance in an 11-2 Mets victory on May 18.

Wilson Betemit's homer was the lone run for the Yankees, who had won the middle two contests in the series. Darrell Rasner (4-6) took the loss despite yielding eight hits and two runs over five innings, fanning three and walking three.

In the sixth against David Robertson, Jose Reyes and Castillo smacked consecutive one-out singles. A wild pitch advanced both runners and then a sacrifice fly from Wright brought in the home team's third run of the contest.

Perez held onto the shutout until Betemit's long homer to left with two gone in the seventh brought the Yanks within 3-1.

Pedro Feliciano sent down the Bombers in order in the eighth. In the ninth, Derek Jeter greeted Billy Wagner with a single and advanced on a wild pitch. Alex Rodriguez flew out to deep left and Jorge Posada's grounder to short failed to advance the runner. Betemit was caught looking at a called third strike to end the contest and give Wagner his 18th save.

The Mets picked up a run in the second. With the bases loaded and two down, Castillo outraced a quick throw by Jeter on his grounder up the middle to score Endy Chavez. Chavez began the inning with a one-out single.

Delgado's one-out solo shot to right-center made it 2-0 for the Mets in the third.

Game Notes

The Mets took 2008's interleague slate against the Yankees four games to two...It was the first time all season Perez did not issue a walk...Perez improved to 4-1 all-time against the Yankees, with his only loss coming in 2005 as a member of the Pirates...The Mets activated outfielder Ryan Church from the 15-day disabled list on Sunday in time for their series finale against the New York Yankees...To make room for Church on the roster, the Mets placed outfielder Trot Nixon on the 15-day DL with a groin problem...Church went 2-for-4...Rasner has dropped six of his last seven starts.