By GEORGE A. KING III
Last updated: 6:58 am
June 27, 2008
Posted: 3:52 am
June 27, 2008
PITTSBURGH - A river of Red Bull will run through their bodies to battle the fatigue that will invade the Yankees' joints, muscles and bones today.
After arriving home at 2 o'clock this morning, the Bombers will be at Yankee Stadium a dozen hours later for the first game of a split-stadium, Subway Series doubleheader against the Mets. Six hours later, they will do it again at Shea Stadium. The twinbill will be followed by solo games tomorrow and Sunday in Queens.
The Yankees were rained out last night at PNC Park while leading, 3-1, in the top of the third last night following a 21/2-hour delay and will be on tired legs facing Mike Pelfrey and Pedro Martinez with Dan Giese and Sidney Ponson going for them.
Last night's game will be made up July 10 at 7:05 at PNC Park.
"We know the Mets will be geared up and trying to turn their season around like we were trying to do a couple of weeks ago," said Johnny Damon, who had a leadoff double washed out. "They will be ready and we will be ready also after they kicked our butts."
After the first game of three Subway Series was rained out on May 16 at Yankee Stadium, the Mets beat Andy Pettitte, 6-4, and Chien-Ming Wang, 11-2.
According to Derek Jeter, one of four Yankees to experience the two-stadium gig, having the Mets in the other dugout will help battle the fatigue.
"It will be easier to take because of the atmosphere in the stadiums," said Jeter - who with Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte have worked in Queens and The Bronx in the same day twice. Jason Giambi did it once. Every other Yankee is new to the experience.
As usual, Shea Stadium and Yankee Stadium will be buzzing for the final regular season Subway Series in the respective buildings.
Though the Yankees are pitching Giese in the opener and Ponson, who was signed off the street for a second time by the Yankees, they will have to face an improving Pelfrey and Martinez.
Those pitching match-ups heavily favor the Mets.
"He is one of the great pitchers of our generation," Damon said of his former Red Sox teammate. "It was an honor to be his teammate for three years."
Giambi has watched tape of Martinez since he came off the disabled list and understands the challenge of facing him in this type of setting.
"I saw him against Colorado and it's all still there," Giambi said. "He still knows how to pitch. It's always fun to face Pedro. That's what it's all about."
The Red Bull won't stop flowing after the two games are done. According to Posada, who will catch Giese in the opener, tomorrow will be a struggle.
"Saturday will be the toughest day because Friday you get going and you keep playing," said Posada, who won't have to battle rush hour traffic from The Bronx to Queens since the Yankees - and Mets - will have a police escort. "Saturday, after playing two games on Friday and not getting much sleep will be tougher."
Jeter, who turned 34 yesterday, was his usual matter-of-fact self when it came to playing in The Bronx and Queens.
"I don't think it's that big of a deal," said Jeter, whose RBI single in the first would have extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
