Estes Makes Fans Forget About Beaning

It was supposed to be all about the beaning of Roger Clemens. Instead, Shawn Estes belted a two-run homer and threw seven shutout innings to lead the New York Mets over the New York Yankees, 8-0, in a much anticipated matchup at Shea Stadium. Mike Piazza continued his success against Roger Clemens, belting a solo home run in the sixth inning to give him four home runs off Clemens in 15 regular season at-bats.

Estes (3-5) picked up the win as he only allowed five hits and one walk, while tying a career-high with 11 strikeouts. Estes got retribution against Clemens, who also threw a piece of a shattered bat toward Piazza after the Mets catcher hit a foul ball in Game 2 of the 2000 World Series, by throwing at him in the third inning. However, the 87 mph fastball missed Clemens as it flew behind him and both benches were warned.

Clemens (8-3) suffered the loss for the Yankees as he left the game after 5 2/3 innings with a bruised right foot injury when he hit a double down the left field line in the sixth inning. In that span, the Rocket surrendered four runs, six hits and one walk, while striking out four.

Roger Cedeno scored two runs on two hits for the Mets, who snapped a three- game losing streak. Rey Ordonez added a three-run triple in the win.

Clemens, Bernie Williams and Ron Coomer each doubled for the Yankees, who won the first game of the Subway Series, 4-2, in 10 innings on Friday night.

The Mets opened the scoring with a run in the third inning on a mental mistake by Clemens and they never looked back. Ordonez led off the frame with a double to left and Estes moved him to third one batter later on a sacrifice bunt, which was fielded by Jorge Posada. However, on the play, Clemens failed to cover the plate as Ordonez sprinted home to a wide open plate.

Estes increased the Mets' lead to 3-0 in the fifth with his first hit of the season, a two-run homer that just cleared the left-field wall. His third career homer also drove in Cedeno, who doubled.

Piazza belted his 13th homer of the season to lead off the sixth inning for the Mets. It was the fourth homer Piazza collected in his career versus Clemens as he is now 8-for-15 against him.

In the eighth inning, the Mets capped off the scoring with four runs. After Piazza drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a single by Mo Vaughn, Piazza crossed the plate on a Jeromy Burnitz base hit. Cedeno then singled and Joe McEwing ran for Vaughn before Ordonez cleared the bases with a three-run triple.

The Yankees, who were out-hit 10-5, staged their biggest scoring threat in the sixth. Clemens led off with a double and Alfonso Soriano followed with a base hit, which moved Clemens to third. However, Derek Jeter flied out, Jason Giambi struck out and Jorge Posada grounded into a fielder's choice to end the frame.

Game Notes

Estes broke an 0-for-19 slump with his homer and was the first Mets pitcher to homer since Bobby Jones did it April 12, 1999, against Montreal. ...Clemens is 0-for-3 at Shea Stadium...Clemens was hurt when he was rounding second base on his double and was scheduled to have X-rays. It was Clemens' first hit since also doubling at Shea Stadium on September 2, 1997.