NEW YORK --- The Mets didn't wait until the last play of the game to be done in by their defense against the Yankees.

Three errors by Mets infielders led to a four-run second inning, Alex Rodriguez added his 564th home run to pass Reggie Jackson on the career list and CC Sabathia pitched the Yankees to a 9-1 win Friday night in the first Subway Series game at Citi Field.

Fill-in leadoff batter Brett Gardner had a career-high five hits, including his third home run of the season and a triple. Rodriguez made it 7-1 with a two-run, opposite-field drive in the eighth off reliever Elmer Dessens, into the right-center field bullpens for his 11th homer this season.

Actress Kate Hudson, who has attended some of A-Rod's recent games, was looking on from the stands as he moved into sole possession of 11th place on the career list. Before homering at Atlanta's Turner Field on Thursday night, Rodriguez hadn't hit one on the road since his first swing of the season, on May 8 at Baltimore.

The Mets drew their second consecutive sellout, a Citi Field record crowd of 41,278 fans. After selling out the opener, the Mets fell short for 34 consecutive games before a discount-assisted full house Thursday afternoon against St. Louis.

Fans got to see some abysmal defense, with third baseman David Wright, shortstop Alex Cora and first baseman Nick Evans contributing to the Mets' first three-error inning in five years.

Sabathia (7-4) was the beneficiary. He left Sunday's start at Florida after 1q innings because of tightness in his left biceps, a problem he said wasn't major.

His arm appeared to be fine Friday, with the stadium radar clocking him at up to 98 mph, and he started 18 of 24 batters with strikes. Sabathia allowed the Mets' only three hits, in seven innings, struck out eight and walked one.

Mike Pelfrey (5-3) dropped to 1-3 in his past nine starts, allowing four runs -- two earned -- and six hits in five innings. Gary Sheffield homered in the fifth for the Mets.

Exactly two weeks earlier in the first Subway Series at new Yankee Stadium, second baseman Luis Castillo dropped what would have been a game-ending popup by Rodriguez, allowing two runs to score and giving the Yankees a shocking 9-8 win.