MET NOTES
SAN FRANCISCO – Not only can’t the Mets win, they can’t stay healthy.
Benny Agbayani didn’t play yesterday due to his abdominal strain suffered in Saturday’s loss. Agbayani is scheduled to meet with team doctors today in New York.
“He is still limited in his movement,” Bobby Valentine said.
Agbayani reiterated yesterday that he didn’t think he would have to go on the DL. But he didn’t really know how to give a progress report on the pain.
“I can’t say because I’ve never had this injury,” Agbayani said.
Agbayani missed two weeks with a chipped bone between his hand and wrist earlier this season.
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Robin Ventura was pinch-hit for in the eighth because of flu-like symptoms. Tsuyoshi Shinjo was 7-for-16 (.438) on the trip. He hit a ninth-inning homer yesterday. He finished with a team-high seven RBIs over the seven games. . . . Darryl Hamilton (left big toe) said he expects to come off the DL tomorrow, but Valentine said the Mets will wait and see how Hamilton looks when he hits at Shea today.
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Mets had another one of their convenient injuries yesterday. Reliever Tom Martin came down with a strained left shoulder, allowing the team to put him on the 15-day disabled list and bring up Double-A catcher Jason Phillips. Martin is 1-0 with a 10.95 ERA.
When informed of the move, backup catcher Todd Pratt was concerned he might be the one who was going to be sent down. But the move was actually made so Pratt could pinch-hit and the Mets would have a true third catcher behind Mike Piazza and Pratt. Before the game, Valentine pulled Pratt aside and explained the move.
Phillips was hitting .268 at Double-A Binghamton. Valentine said he probably will be sent down tomorrow.
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St. John’s product Rich Aurilia led the Giants with a homer and three RBIs. Aurilia leads the NL in hitting at .393. . . . Al Leiter (elbow) and Rick White (rotator cuff) both threw off a mound and felt fine. Leiter is expected to be taken off the DL on Friday to start at Shea against the Dodgers. It will be nearly a month after his strained ligament was first diagnosed.