"Sore right knee and all, Gary Sheffield has been quite a handful for the Yankees over the last two days.

Sheffield yesterday launched his second homer in as many games, a solo blast to left field in the seventh inning, that helped the Mets get back on course a day after the Luis Castillo fiasco, with a 6-2 victory at the Stadium.

The 40-year-old Sheffield later said he's planning to have an MRI exam on his right knee in the near future in an effort to determine the cause of his chronic pain. But he vowed, regardless of the results, not to become the latest addition to the Mets' disabled list.

"I just want to know what's behind my knee and I want to make sure it's nothing major," Sheffield said. "I'll be fine, regardless. If I have to play with it or not, it's not going to make a difference with anything."

Sheffield said his homer yesterday was sweet because his uncle, Dwight Gooden, was in the ballpark. Sheffield motioned to Gooden, seated behind home plate, after circling the bases against Alfredo Aceves.

But Sheffield wasn't the only offensive star. Omir Santos provided the Mets with an early cushion, hitting a two-run homer in the second inning before stroking an RBI double in the fifth.

Santos, it seems, saves his best performances for the Mets' top opponents. The rookie had a game-winning homer against Boston last month, collected a career-high three hits on Wednesday against the Phillies and yesterday helped KO the Yanks. "