Mets play awful baseball against Yankees as Bombers take Series

YANKEES 6 - Mets 4 
W - Shreve (1-0)
L - Niese (2-1)
S - Miller (7)

The New York Mets had every opportunity to take the first leg of the 2015 Subway Series, and they blew it in a barrage of errors and poor execution that would make any manager want to hit the reset button, and take his bumbling ball club back to the basics of spring training.

Sunday night's 6-4 loss wasn't just bad, it was awful. Easily the worst performance of the season by the Mets, who reminded us that not only are they human, but the defensive issues that plagued this team coming into the season are indeed true.

What hurts most of all is the Mets had a chance in this one. They built a 2-0 lead on Yankees' starter Nathan Evoldi who had nothing in the tank. The guy was truly awful. He was missing with pitches all over the map and the Mets couldn't muster a complete challenge to him. They had him on the ropes, and like a inexperienced fighter they let him go easy.

Bottom line is the Mets didn't deserve to win this game. With the Mets leading 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning, starter Jon Niese completely imploded with an implosion assist to the Mets defense. With a runner on second and two out, all Niese had to do was get Gregorio Petit out to get out of the jam. What does he do? He serves up a meatball that Petit lines down the right field line to drive in the tying run.

All hell would break loose as Brett Gardner doubled Petit in to give the Yankees the lead, before Chris Young snuck one past Daniel Murphy who totally misplayed the ball allowing Gardner to score easily. Finally A-Rod lined a double to left thanks in big part to horrendous throw by Michael Cuddyer where the ball died in mid-flight and hit the outfield grass, before rolling onto the infield.

Before anyone knew it, 5-2 Yankees. Game over -- again.

Still the Mets had a chance. They got two runs back in the top of the fourth off Evoldi, but Eric Campbell grounded out to end the inning, killing any chance at tying it.

Finally in the fifth the Mets mistakes hurt them again. An error by Daniel Murphy on a ground ball by Chris Young allowed Gardner to move to third on what should have been a double-play. Then, A-Rod grounded into what should have been a double-play grounder to short stop, but Wilmur Flores air-mailed the throw to first, allowing the run to score, 6-4 Yankees.

Oh, by the way don't forget that Eric Campbell got doubled-off of first base in the top of the sixth inning when he forgot how many outs there were ending another potential Mets rally.

The Mets (14-5) now head to Miami to take on the Marlins, while the Yankees (11-8) maintain their claim on New York City, and head to Tampa Bay with a lot of confidence, and first place in the AL East.

Notes: For what it's worth Alex Rodriguez hit his 659th home run on Sunday night. Then again, since his numbers are tainted, it probably doesn't matter. But, it does mean the Yankees are one home run away from having to grapple with A-Rod over a $6 million signing bonus when he hits 660.

The Mets will start Rafael Montero on Tuesday in Miami in order to lengthen the rotation since they do not have a day off until next Monday, May 4.