NEW YORK – The Queens edition of the Subway Series between the New York Mets and the New York Yankees included all the off-field gimmicks and silly jokes that were absent back in May when this matchup took place in the corporate setting of Yankee Stadium.

NEW YORK — Here were the Yankees at their best: the lineup smashing homers and doubles early, the ace and bullpen surviving a rocky middle, the fielders making clutch, heady plays to save the day. After a week in the wilderness, the Yankees found their way to the clearing of Monday’s off day. They are bruised but breathing.

Subway Series continues this weekend when the New York Mets host the crosstown rival New York Yankees for three games at Citi Field. It is potentially a World Series preview, though neither team has looked the part of a World Series contender the last 3-4 weeks.