New York Mets Beat Yankees 5-3 as Wright, Pagan, Cora Drive in Runs

David Wright and Angel Pagan each drove two runs and Alex Cora knocked in one as the New York Mets held off a late-game rally by the Yankees last night at Citi Field and evened their series with a 5-3 win.

Cora singled to right to score Pagan in the sixth inning, while Pagan doubled to left to score Jason Bay in the seventh, padding the Mets’ (21-23) lead to 5-1.

In the eighth inning, Robinson Cano scored on a bases- loaded walk and Nick Swisher added the Yankees (26-17) final run on Derek Jeter’s grounder to third.

Wright singled in the first and third innings to score Bay, while Pagan sent Ike Davis home in the first.

Francisco Cervelli narrowed the Mets’ lead to 3-1 in the sixth inning on an infield single to shortstop that scored Cano.

Mike Pelfrey improved to 6-1, giving up six hits and one run and striking out five in six innings for the Yankees.

Phil Hughes (5-1) got the loss after surrendering eight hits and four runs in 5 2/3rds innings. He struck out seven.

At Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-1) took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Phillies’ Juan Castro broke it up with a two-out single to left field.

The Red Sox (23-21) won 5-0 off Kyle Kendrick (2-2) who surrendered eight hits and five runs in 4 2/3rds innings. The Phillies fell to 26-16.

To contact the reporter on this story: Nancy Kercheval in Washington at nkercheval@bloomberg.net