NEW YORK -- One bullpen was clearly far superior than the other in the first game of the Subway Series on Monday night at Yankee Stadium, and it made all the difference.
The Mets' bullpen gave up two homers while the Yankee 'pen gave up none, and the team from the Bronx beat the team from Queens 4-2.
Aaaron Hicks broke a 2-2 tie with a leadoff shot in the eighth inning, taking Hansel Robles' 1-1 fastball back deep. Two batters later, Erik Goeddel gave one up to Gary Sanchez.
The Mets went quietly in the ninth inning against closer Dellin Betances.
Rafael Montero had a rocky outing but managed to finish with a decent line. Montero pounded the strike zone through the first three innings before getting knocked around in the fourth. He was clearly rattled after giving up a one-out single to Hicks and walked the next two batters.
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A shallow fly ball to left field by Sanchez scored Hicks. Yoenis Cespedes' throw home was off the line and catcher Rene Rivera was unable to tag him at the plate. He then gave up a game-tying home run to Aaron Judge in the sixth inning before being removed for Robles (7-4).
Robles had another erratic of outing, stranding a runner at first in the seventh inning, before falling apart in the eighth. He took his third loss in his last six outings.
Curtis Granderson and Yoenis Cespedes both homered in the third inning off former Mets prospect Luis Cessa to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. It was the third home run in as many games for Cespedes.
Montero: The right-hander limited the damage to just two earned runs on five hits. He walked just two and struck out six over six innings.
On the mend: Left-hander Tommy Milone (sprained left knee) gave up five home runs in a rehab assignment for Double-A Binghamton. Milone allowed six earned runs on nine hits, walked one and struck out four over 6 2/3 innings.
What's next: A marquee pitching matchup is on tap for the second game of the Subway Series.
RHP Jacob deGrom (13-5, 3.21) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (6-7, 3.39); Yankee Stadium, 7:05 p.m. (SNY, WOR 710 AM, 104.3 FM HD, ESPN 1050 AM)
Abbey Mastracco may be reached at amastracco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @abbeymastracco. Find NJ.com on Facebook.