New York

The Mets finally got some offense for a change, but the game started with a bizarre episode involving John Maine .

He threw five pitches to the first batter and got pulled from the game. His fastball was at 85 mph, and it looked like something was wrong.

He and Jerry Manuel argued in the dugout. Maine appeared to have wanted to stay in the game.

Here are a couple of quick items this afternoon.

According to Jack Curry of the YES Network  

The Yankees have called up veteran catcher Chad Moeller from Triple-A Scranton to replace Jorge Posada , who could miss up to a month with a broken foot.

To make room for him on the 40-man roster, the Yankees transferred Nick Johnson to the 60-day DL.

TWIN FALLS, IDAHO — 84-year-old Rusty Gate, has announced that it plans to sue Yankees utility outfielder, Randy Winn, for defamation of character, sources tell the Associated Press.

According to a statement released by its attorney, Rusty Gate is seeking damages related to widespread use of the phrase, "swings like a Rusty Gate," with regard to Mr. Winn's recent performance with the Yankees.

Rusty Gate would not make a comment on the record but did remark that he could at least be in position to catch routine fly balls.

The Mets just can’t seem to figure out the Nationals, as the Metropolitans went to Washington to get beat 5-3 despite a solid performance by starter R.A. Dickey and Angel Pagan’s inside-the-park home run and triple play.

The Mets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning thanks to Pagan's homer, but two runs were quickly given back in the bottom of the inning.

The Mets tied the game in the top of the sixth only to give it back in the bottom of the seventh when they probably took Dickey out too early.

The New York Yankees have the second best record in baseball as of today. The only team with a better one is the Tampa Bay Rays.

The two American League East teams start a big two-game series tonight at Yankee Stadium.

How can a two-game series be such a big deal? Well, maybe not so much for the Rays, but it is a big series for the Yankees. Entering the series tonight, the Yankees sit three games behind the Rays in the division.

With the news coming in from all over that Nick Johnson will need wrist surgery and will be out until at least July, the Yankees have found themselves without an everyday designated hitter.

Johnson, who was batting an abysmal .167 to begin with, now needs a replacement in the lineup.

Since his departure, the Yankees have been shuffling a bunch of players around and giving their opponents different looks on almost a gamely basis.

The Yankees may not need to go out and get a DH, if they are able to win with the current mix of players they have right now.

Only 3 games back of the red hot Rays

ATLANTA—Looking to build on a strong performance out of Mike Pelfrey on Monday night, the Mets sent their ace Johan Santana to the mound against the Braves.

Santana had one bad inning the entire game, and it was the third. In that frame, he allowed four consecutive hits, including a two-run home run to Troy Glaus after getting the first two outs.

Thursday's matchup is definitely a good one featuring Andy Pettitte and James Shields .

Another hard winner to pick because Pettitte has been so good and Shields has greatly improved since the last time he faced this Yankees lineup.

In 2009, the Yankees won a total of 15 games in walk-off hit fashion.

In the 2010 season, the Yankees got their first of the season in a much needed way against their oldest rival.

Monday night pitted the Yankees and Red Sox in the first of two games at Yankee Stadium.

Early on, the Yankees got a 5-0 lead in the first inning off Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka, who just looked awful against the Yankees.

Yankees starter Phil Hughes wasn't as sharp as he has been all season, entering Monday's game 5-0.

ATLANTA—Things have gotten so bad for the Mets that their general manager has decided to watch them in person on the road.

After yesterday's 10-8 loss to the Marlins, it was announced that GM Omar Minaya was making the flight to Atlanta to watch his team play.

When a GM of a team heads on the road to see his team, it means one of two things: Either he wants to give his team a vote of confidence, or he's all set to fire his manager if the team continues to lose.