Perez out-pitches Clemens, and Mets stop Yankees, 2-0

NEW YORK —  Just the sight of the Yankees energized the Mets.

Oliver Perez out-pitched Roger Clemens, and Jose Reyes was three for three with three steals, two RBIs and a home run, and Carlos Gomez prevented a three-run homer with a leaping catch. The Mets won the opener of the Subway Series, 2-0, Friday, stopping their five-game losing streak and the Yankees’ nine-game winning streak.

Perez (7-5) yielded five hits in 7 1/3 innings to beat the Yankees for the second time this season. He struck out six, walked three, and combined with three relievers on a five-hitter.

“He pitched a big game for us in a huge situation,” said Mets closer Billy Wagner, who pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save in 16 chances.

The NL East-leading Mets staggered to the Bronx with nine losses in their previous 10 games, including five straight, while the Yankees were on their longest winning streak in two years.

But in front of a pumped up crowd of 55,159, the Mets (37-28) beat the Yankees (33-32) for the third time in four meetings this year.

Reyes tied his career best for steals and leads the major leagues with 35.

“It’s nice to have some speed because we put a lot of pressure on the other team,” Reyes said.

Gomez, another of the Mets’ young speedsters, made a spectacular play in left field to rob Miguel Cairo of a home run in the fourth inning.

The Yankees were on their longest winning streak in two years. When the Mets took two of three at Shea Stadium from May 18-20, the Yankees were swooning on their way to a 21-29 start.

Making his second start, Clemens (1-1) reached 92 mph with his fastball but was around 89 mph most of the time, a little more velocity than he showed in Saturday’s 9-3 victory over Pittsburgh.

The 44-year-old gave up two runs, seven hits and one walk in 6 1/3 innings. With eight strikeouts, he retook second place on the career list with 4,619, five more than Arizona’s Randy Johnson.