New York @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 22, 2012 ) NY Yankees 4, NY Mets 6

In a high-profile game of chicken, New York Mets closer Frank Francisco refused to back down against the New York Yankees on Friday night. Francisco made tabloid headlines and ruffled a few feathers by labeling the Yankees as "chickens" prior to this year's second edition of the Subway Series. Francisco appeared as if he might have to eat his words, putting two runners on with one out in the ninth, but he struck out Curtis Granderson and got Mark Teixeira on a harmless pop up to end the game.

While the Mets extended their winning streak to four games, the Yankees absorbed their third consecutive defeat. The Yankees had won 10 straight prior to their current skid, a hot streak that started with a sweep of the Mets. They were unable to climb out of a 5-0 first-inning hole despite homers by Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez and Andruw Jones, giving them a major league-leading 108 blasts. Rodriguez has homered in back-to-back games for the first time this year.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Ivan Nova (9-2, 4.32 ERA) vs. Mets RH Chris Young (1-1, 3.06)

Nova is starting to resemble the pitcher who won his last 12 decisions in 2011. He has won five consecutive starts and has been brilliant in his last three outings, allowing two runs in 22 2/3 innings. Nova was the beneficiary of some of the highest run support in baseball for the first two months, but he has sliced more than a run off his ERA in June. He is 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA in two starts vs. the Mets.

The oft-injured Young will be making his fourth start of the year, matching his total from each of the past two seasons. The 6-foot-10 righty was solid last time out, taking the loss despite yielding three runs and nine hits in seven innings against Cincinnati. Young hasn't faced the Yankees since 2005, when he was with the Texas Rangers. Yankees catcher Russell Martin is 8-for-25 against Young.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rodriguez's homer was the 641st of his career. He needs 19 more to tie Willie Mays for fourth place on the all-time list.

2. Jon Niese allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings Friday. It was the 13th straight outing in which a Mets starter went at least six innings.

3. Mets 1B Ike Davis is tied with Oakland's Brandon Inge for the most home runs (five) with at least two runners on base this year.