In a thrilling Subway Series opener at Citi Field, the New York Yankees overcame a four-run deficit to defeat the struggling New York Mets 7-6. The game featured dramatic moments, including a bases-loaded escape by Yankees reliever Clay Holmes in the eighth inning and the ejection of Mets pitcher Drew Smith for a sticky substance violation.

Yankees sluggers Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu launched home runs off Mets starter Max Scherzer, who surrendered five runs in the fourth inning. Pinch-hitter Josh Donaldson's sacrifice fly in the sixth, aided by a Brandon Nimmo misplay in center field, proved to be the decisive run. Nimmo had earlier opened the scoring with his eighth career leadoff home run, and Jeff McNeil contributed a two-run single for the Mets, who have now lost nine of their last ten games.

The Mets built a 5-1 lead, capitalizing on two balks by Yankees starter Luis Severino in the second inning. However, the Yankees’ offense exploded in the fourth, highlighted by LeMahieu's two-run shot and Jake Bauers' go-ahead two-run single. Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, was met with boos from the sellout crowd as he exited the game.

The Mets tied the game in the fifth on Luis Guillorme's RBI single, prompting Severino's removal. The eighth inning saw high drama as the Mets loaded the bases with one out. Holmes entered and struck out Francisco Lindor and Starling Marte to escape the jam. Ron Marinaccio earned the win, and Michael King secured his fourth save with a perfect ninth inning. The Yankees bullpen, boasting a league-best 2.72 ERA, continued its dominant performance.

A controversial moment occurred in the seventh when Mets reliever Drew Smith was ejected without throwing a pitch after umpires deemed his hands too sticky. Smith, who maintained he used only sweat and rosin, faces a potential 10-game suspension. Crew chief Bill Miller stated that Smith's hands were the stickiest he had encountered this season. This incident follows Scherzer's own 10-game suspension earlier this season for a similar infraction.

The two-game series concludes Wednesday with a highly anticipated matchup between Yankees ace Gerrit Cole and Mets veteran Justin Verlander.