Thanks to a terrific pitching performance from Oliver Perez and a clutch two run jack from Endy Chavez the New York Mets took the first of three games from the New York Yankees. Despite pitching well, the tough luck loser is Andy Petitte and the winner is Oliver Perez. Petitte is now 2-3, and Perez is now 5-3. Also with a single in the third inning Perez now has seven hits for the season, tying him for the Major League lead hits for a pitcher with Livan Hernandez.

The Mets got a run in the very first inning on a shallow sacrifice fly off the bat of Carlos Delgado. That lead did not last though, as Hideki Matsui of the Yankees responded with a two run home run in the 4th inning. In the fifth inning, with Paul Lo Duca on second base Endy Chavez showed bunt on the first pitch of his at bat. Then with a 1-0 count he connected with a two run home run over the right field fence. That would be it for scoring in the game, rookie Joe Smith would go on to come in the eighth inning and strike out Derek Jeter, and Billy Wagner won a 10 pitch duel with Jason Giambi to close out the game. Wagner is still perfect this year in saves, with 10.

The Mets showed tonight why they have the best bench in baseball. With hot hitter Moises Alou prepared to make a trip to the DL they still have a player like Endy Chavez who plays well enough to start, and does something to help the club whenever he does. On the first play of the game he threw out Johnny Damon trying to stretch a single into a double. Its the things like that which set the tone for the rest of the game. His home run and stellar defense gave Oliver Perez the momentum to go 7 2/3 innings strong and pick up a victory. It was a fast moving game, lasting just two hours and 18 minutes, but there was plenty of action to go around.

Tomorrow’s pitching match-up will feature Tom Glavine for the Mets and Darrell Rasner for the Yankees. Sunday the Mets will have John Maine on the hill and Tyler Clippard will make his Major League debut for the Bronx Bombers. If there was one match up that favored the Yanks in this series it was tonight’s, but they will have to get the most out of their rookies to win this series.