For the second time in two weeks, Paul Lo Duca’s right hamstring is an issue. But this time the Mets will be more judicious, giving their catcher a stint on the disabled list.
After their 7-5 loss to the Marlins last night, the Mets announced that Lo Duca will be placed on the DL today, with catcher Mike DiFelice set to take his roster spot.
Lo Duca aggravated the hamstring while running to first base on a dribbler to pitcher Scott Olsen in the fourth inning last night and remained in the game, but with the hammy barking, was removed as part of a double switch with the Marlins batting in the seventh. Tom Glavine and Lo Duca exited, with Guillermo Mota and Ramon Castro entering.
Lo Duca, who first injured the hamstring running the bases on July 28 against the Nationals, objected to last night’s DL decision and left Shea Stadium without speaking to reporters.
“He’s not thrilled, of course,” general manager Omar Minaya said. “But it was our decision, not his.”
Lo Duca is expected to undergo an MRI today.
After Lo Duca injured the hamstring two weeks ago, he rested for six games, returning to catch Glavine’s 300th victory last Sunday. Minaya said he doesn’t think Lo Duca was rushed back.
“He got better,” Minaya said. “It wasn’t that it happened the first day back.”
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The first evidence that Carlos Beltran isn’t all the way back from his strained oblique muscle came last night, when he was absent from the starting lineup against the left-handed Olsen.
Though he hit a three-run homer batting left-handed on Friday, Beltran later indicated he still had reservations about swinging from the right side. Rather than force the issue yesterday, Willie Randolph put Lastings Milledge in center field and had Beltran available to pinch hit.
Beltran came to the plate in the ninth inning, batting lefty, as the tying run against Kevin Gregg and struck out to end the game.
Beltran is expected back in the starting lineup today, with the Marlins scheduled to send righty Rick VandenHurk to the mound.
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Billy Wagner has converted 26 of 28 save opportunities this season, but don’t try telling the Mets closer it’s been a good season.
“I’m not happy with any [season] until it’s over,” Wagner said. “As a reliever you’re only two or three bad outings away from it being a bad year.”
One of those bad outings came Friday night, when he allowed two runs in the ninth, surrendering the lead in the Mets’ 4-3 loss to the Marlins. It was Wagner’s first run allowed in 20 appearances, dating to June 15.
“My last five outings I haven’t been as sharp,” Wagner said. “Probably I’ve given up more ground balls, that’s what is unusual. I’m not a ground ball pitcher.”
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Randolph couldn’t be happier with how second baseman Luis Castillo has performed since arriving in the July 30 trade with the Twins. Castillo entered last night’s game batting .478 over his previous six games.
“It’s not easy to hit second,” Randolph said. “It’s an art, really; I did it for years, so I understand how difficult it is to be able to have confidence in yourself to take pitches and have a feel for the game.”
Castillo went 0-for-3 with a walk, a run and an RBI groundout before being hit for by Beltran in the ninth.