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.

N EW 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.