Andy Pettitte gave up 12 hits in five innings and spot starter Fernando Nieve shuts down the Yankees offense, as the Mets were able to respond a day after Luis Castillo's dropped pop up. The Mets defeated the Yankees 6-2 to split the first two games of the series.

Omir Santos hit a two-run home run in the top of the second to get the ball rolling for the Mets. Pettitte allowed a one-out walk to Fernando Tatis and then surrendered the home run two batters later. Pettitte gave up two hits after but was able to retire the next batter without allowed further damage.

Alex Rodriguez led off with a solo home run in the next half-inning to halve the Mets' lead. However, the Yankees continued to go down quietly against Nieve.

The Mets scored three more against Petitte in the top of the fifth. Carlos Beltran led off with a walk and David Wright doubled, advancing Beltran to third. Gary Sheffield followed with an RBI single, Tatis drove in a run on a fielder's choice and Santos hit an RBI double to give the Mets a 5-1 lead.

This would be Pettitte's last inning, as the Yankees' starters (aside from CC Sabathia in one of the Boston games) have been unable to give the team length. Alfredo Aceves relieved Pettitte and pitched a 1-2-3 sixth. However, he allowed a solo home run to Gary Sheffield to extend the lead to 6-1.

Nieve allowed two two-out hits in the seventh, as many as he had given up in the first six innings. After he left, Derek Jeter beat out a ground ball to allow a run to score. It made the game 6-2, the eventual final score.

The Yankees only had five hits compared to the Mets' 17. All in all, the Yankees have played terrible baseball over their last five games. They are very lucky to have one win.

A.J. Burnett and Johan Santana get the starts tomorrow afternoon.

Andrew Fletcher blogs about the Yankees regularly at Scott Proctor's Arm.