Mets 2, Yankees 1: Daniel Murphy ripped a go-ahead RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the host Mets to a win in the first of four straight with their crosstown rivals.

Murphy's hit came two innings after Yankees center fielder Brett Gardner had robbed him of what would have been a two-run homer with a spectacular leaping grab at the wall. He got revenge by lining a 3-1 offering from David Robertson (3-1) into center field to score Jordany Valdespin with the tiebreaking run.

Gardner had tripled and scored on Jayson Nix's single in the sixth to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead against Mets starter Jonathon Niese, who pitched seven strong innings. David Wright crushed a solo shot leading off the seventh against Yankees starter Phil Hughes, who matched Niese before a 1-1 game was turned over to the bullpens.

Brandon Lyon (2-2) got Vernon Wells to hit into an inning-ending double play in the top of the eighth and Mike Baxter doubled with one out in the bottom half to get the decisive rally going. Valdespin, hitting for Lyon, drew a walk and a passed ball moved both runners up.

After Baxter was thrown out at home on a grounder to second, Murphy produced the go-ahead hit, flipping his bat in dramatic fashion. Bobby Parnell worked around a one-out walk in the ninth for his eighth save as the Mets won their second straight following a five-game slide.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Mets improved to 37-54 all-time in the series. They are 5-8 against the Yankees at Citi Field. ... Wright's homer was his seventh of the season and his ninth all-time in the Subway Series. ... Murphy is hitting .390 with nine RBIs in his last 15 games.