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A home run. A Web Gem-worthy catch.

Josh Thole had one word to describe Kirk Nieuwenhuis' night: “Awesome.”

“His play [Friday night] says it all,” Thole said of Nieuwenhuis, who went 1-for-3 in the Mets’ 4-3 10-inning loss to the Giants at Citi Field. (Nieuwenhuis is now batting .371.) “I’ve known Nieuwey for a while. We kind of came through the minor leagues a little bit, and he’s been the same player. I think the fans are gonna have fun watching him play.”

Leading off the fifth inning, the Mets' rookie center fielder drilled a 1-0 curveball from Barry Zito into the Party City Deck in left field for his second homer this season. It was the first opposite-field home run over the wall by a Mets left-handed hitter in Citi Field history.

Prior to that homer, Nieuwenhuis had been 0-for-7 off left-handed pitching in his brief major-league career

“It was one of those where you see it and you react,” said Nieuwenhuis, who has hit safely in seven straight games.

Nieuwenhuis ended the eighth by taking an extra-base hit away from Hector Sanchez.

The Giants catcher drilled a ball into the left-center field gap. Nieuwenhuis raced back and dove to make the catch on the warning track.

“I knew I had enough room,” Nieuwenhuis said.

With Andres Torres on the disabled list, Nieuwenhuis has taken full advantage of his opportunity since being promoted after Opening Day.

Now he’s just trying to stay consistent.

"I’m not gonna get into who’s gonna play center field in two weeks, because nobody knows, but he’s played very, very well,” manager Terry Collins said. “He’s really been impressive. He gives maximum effort every day.”

Collins said Nieuwenhuis is normally quiet and relaxed, but once it’s time to play, he turns on the intensity.

Sounds like an attitude that should bode well for the 24-year-old going forward.

“I came in and I just wanted to enjoy being part of the team,” Nieuwenhuis said. “It’s an honor to be here.”

• Frank Francisco has now given up four runs in his last three appearances.

But the Mets' closer doesn’t seem too concerned about it.

“The only thing you can control is where you throw the ball,” said Francisco, who left a pitch up that Sanchez hit softly into center for a go-ahead single with two outs in the top of the 10th inning.

Sanchez’s clutch hit came after Francisco issued a four-pitch walk to Melky Cabrera leading off the frame.

The Mets pitched out and tried to nail Cabrera going to second, but he picked up the 34th stolen base in the last 37 attempts since 2008 against Francisco.

“I think I made a decent pitch, and I got a soft base hit,” Francisco said. “The only thing you can control is where you throw the ball.”

Francisco said there’s no difference between entering a game in a save situation and a no-save situation.

“I think it’s the same thing. You gotta go out there and get three outs. But I guess [Friday] wasn’t my day,” he said.

Collins thinks Francisco has struggled because he hasn’t gotten consistent work.

Francisco saved all three games during the Mets’ season-opening series sweep of the Braves, but has pitched just three times in 12 days since.

“They’ve been using me,” Francisco said. “I pitched the other day to get some work.”

• Jon Niese, who labored through a 109-pitch, six-inning outing in which he gave up three runs on seven hits Friday night, said he was having trouble commanding his fastball early.

Niese gave up all three runs in the third inning, but worked out of trouble elsewhere and picked up another quality start in the process.

Niese said his curveball helped him find some command of his fastball.

Johan Santana and R.A. Dickey had combined to go six innings over the previous two games, so it was big for Niese to give the Mets some length.

• Thole, who delivered the game-tying single through the right side of the infield with one out in the ninth, has reached safely in all 12 games he has played this season.

• Jon Rauch tossed a perfect eighth inning to extend his career-best scoreless innings streak to start a season to eight.

• Angel Pagan's third-inning solo shot gave him 16 home runs at Citi Field, and broke a tie for the second-most at the ballpark since it opened in 2009.

Welcome to the second edition of "The Week in 'Met'rics," where we celebrate all that is amazin' and some of what is not about Mets statistical and historical accomplishments.

Our biggest resource in this search is the Baseball-Reference.com Play Index, a source of much entertainment and amusement.

Stat of the Week
It was a great week of accomplishments for David Wright, who matched Darryl Strawberry’s career RBI mark on Wednesday. The two each have 733 RBI.

Wright became the first player in franchise history to reach base twice (via hit or walk) in each of his first nine games of a season. The last player to do so for any team is former Met Mike Cameron, who had such a streak for the 2002 Mariners.

The Mets record for consecutive games reaching base at least twice at any point during the season is 12, set by John Stearns in 1977. Ron Hunt (1964), Derek Bell (2000) and Wright (2009) each had 11-game streaks.

First Things First
The Mets hit a first-inning home run in each of the three games in their series against the Phillies.

Wright had one of those on Saturday, in his first game back from his finger injury, and in hitting one tied an obscure Mets record in the process.

Wright now has 36 career first-inning home runs, tied with Strawberry for the most in Mets history.


Wright’s five first-inning home runs are the most by any Met at Citizens Bank Park. The only other Met with more than one is Jose Reyes, with two.

Also in that game, the Mets recorded their first stolen base of the season (Mike Baxter). The Elias Sports Bureau notes that the Mets' first steal coming in their eighth game was the third-longest drought to start a season in franchise history. It took 17 games to nab a steal in 1963 and 12 games in 1962.

Oh, So Niese … Again
Jonathon Niese pitched scoreless ball over 6 2/3 innings. The Elias Sports Bureau noted that Niese became only the second Mets pitcher in the last 30 seasons to start and win his first two appearances in a season, shutting out the opposition through six innings in each. The other was Frank Viola in 1990.

Manny Unhappy Returns
The bizarre pitching line of the week belonged to Manny Acosta, who allowed four runs and one hit in relief in the Mets loss to the Phillies on Sunday.

The Mets have had 19 instances of a pitcher allowing four or more runs on one hit or no hits. This was the third such occurrence in the last 12 months. Dillon Gee and Jason Isringhausen each had such a line last season, but prior to that, no Mets pitcher had such a line for nearly 10 years!

The last to do so was Armando Benitez against the Braves in June, 2001.

Bay (Doesn’t Just) Watch
Jason Bay hit a home run in his first game after missing time due to a finger injury. Bay also robbed Braves shortstop Jack Wilson of a home run, with a leaping catch. It was the second straight year he robbed a Braves shortstop of a home run. He snatched one from Alex Gonzalez last season.

Also of note was that for the first time in his Mets career, reliever Jon Rauch allowed a hit. Rauch’s streak of hitless appearances to start his Mets career ended at five. That matched Jaime Cerda (2002) and Roberto Hernandez (2005) for the best such Mets career-starting streaks.

Monday’s win raised the Mets record to 7-3. We noted that the Mets have started 7-3 on seven previous occasions, and on each of those, they’ve finished the season at least 10 games over .500.

Some other 10-game milestones:

• The Mets 2.33 ERA through 10 games was sixth-best in team history, the best since the team had a 2.12 ERA through 10 games in 2002. The franchise best was in 1968, the Year of the Pitcher, when the Mets staff posted a 1.67 ERA through 10 games.

• The 83 strikeouts by Mets pitchers tied the 2005 Mets for second-most strikeouts in the first 10 games of the season. The club mark is 88, set in the first 10 games in 1990.
• On the downside, the 85 whiffs by Mets hitters is the most the Mets have ever had in their first 10 games.

Johan gets Chopped
Johan Santana allowed six runs in 1 1/3 innings in a 9-3 loss to the Braves on Tuesday. It was the shortest start of Santana’s career.

Santana is the fourth starting pitcher in Mets history to give up at least six runs while recording four or fewer outs against the Braves. The other three are Mike Scott (1982), Bobby Jones (1997) and Pat Misch (2009).

Unhappy ending
The Mets gave up 14 runs to the Braves in their series-finale loss on Wednesday. It’s the fourth time in Mets history that they allowed that many runs in a game in Atlanta, the first since 2004, when they yielded 18.

Vintage Metric of the Week
The Mets beat the Braves four times in a row this season, prior to losing to them in the final two games of their series.

When was the first time the Mets beat a team four times in a row?

That would be the inaugural season of 1962. The Mets won the first four games the franchise ever played against the Cubs, with three of those games being decided by one run. They would finish 9-9 against the Cubs that season, 31-111 vs everyone else.

Sandy Alderson told Jon Niese this week basically to disregard trade rumors, that he is part of the Mets' future -- at least immediate future. And that makes sense. After all, Niese still is not yet eligible for arbitration, and will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2015 season.

ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick agrees Niese is unlikely to be moved, especially in a reported potential deal for Colorado outfielder Seth Smith. Crasnick tweets:

The #Mets have zero interest in trading Jon Niese to #Rockies in a deal involving Seth Smith, baseball sources say. #Mets have high regard for Niese, who's 25 years old and has 286 K's and 106 BBs over past two seasons. One person familiar w/ #Mets thinking says club not looking to deal Niese. They would have to be "knocked out'' to trade him. Finally, Niese isn't arbitration-eligible for another year. Smith is arbitration-eligible in spring, & getting more costly. #Mets

Jon Niese, whose season ended when he landed on the disabled list on Aug. 24 with an intercostal strain on his right side, said the injury is no lingering issue.

"I felt really good when the season finally ended," Niese said. "Obviously the Mets weren't going to risk it. I wasn't going to risk it, trying to squeeze in one or two more starts, then get hurt again. But right now I feel great -- 100 percent -- just working out hard, the same as last offseason. I feel good and I'm looking forward to spring training."

Niese said he has discounted trade rumors, noting the chatter is part of the business. And, in fact, it's hard to envision him getting traded unless the Mets are absolutely overwhelmed with a trade offer. After all, he's arguably the Mets' top pitcher and still making close to the major league minimum.

Mets personnel reached out to Niese after the trade rumors surfaced to assure him he is part of their plans, the southpaw said.

"It really didn't matter to me," Niese said about the trade rumblings. "That's the beauty of baseball, that it's a business. The decisions aren't mine. That's why I don't wear a suit to work. So whatever happens, happens. Obviously the Mets have stressed to me that they really like me and they want me to stay here."

The Mets are talking with multiple teams about Jon Niese. Jon Heyman tweets:

"#mets taking to 3 or 4 teams about niese. Hoping to get multiple pieces back in return. Maybe a catcher, infielder and prospects"

The Mets lost to the Marlins, 9-3, as Chris Capuano had his shortest start as a Met. But the news was made before the game when Johan Santana indicated he could return to the major leagues as soon as next week and Ike Davis worked out at Sun Life Stadium and pronounced surgery unnecessary.

Tuesday's news reports:

• Santana will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday in Miami before the Mets face the Marlins. He then will pitch in a minor league playoff game Friday. The preference is for that game to be in the Florida State League. But if St. Lucie does not have a game that day -- it begins a best-of-three series Tuesday -- then Santana would pitch in the South Atlantic League playoffs at Savannah, Ga. With playoffs likely over after that point, Santana indicated an inclination for his following appearance -- next week -- to be in the majors for a couple of innings. That could coincide with the one-year anniversary of his Sept. 14, 2010 surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder. Read more in the Star-Ledger, Post and Newsday.

• Davis worked out for Terry Collins on Monday in Miami. He will do so the other two days of the series, too. But assuming he continues to feel no pain in his troublesome left ankle -- he feels tightness, or minor irritation -- the first baseman indicated surgery will not be needed. He expects team doctors to sign off on that route when he follows the team to New York after Thursday's series finale. Davis then should shut down activity for a month to allow the ankle to further recuperate, followed by the beginnings of his preparation for the 2012 season. Davis did acknowledge some issue likely will be with him the remainder of his career, but noted plenty of ballplayers have nagging issues. He has been told to expect arthritis. Read more in Newsday, the Times, Record, Post, Daily News and Star-Ledger.

• Also on the injury front, assistant GM John Ricco said Jon Niese (intercostal muscle strain on side) still experiences a twinge when he sneezes, so he is not close to returning. Still, Ricco indicated the Mets would not place him -- or Scott Hairston (oblique) -- on the 60-day DL to create roster room. That means the organization still is leaving open the possibility of either returning this season.

• The Mets confirmed that right-hander Chris Schwinden, first baseman Valentino Pascucci and outfielder Mike Baxter will be promoted now that Triple-A Buffalo's season has ended. Schwinden is expected to start one game of Thursday's makeup doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Pascucci, who will wear the No. 15 formerly donned by Carlos Beltran, last appeared in the majors on Oct. 3, 2004 with the Montreal Expos at Shea Stadium. The Queens native Baxter had been claimed off waivers from the San Diego Padres earlier this season.

• Matt Harvey led the organization in wins and strikeouts, while Danny Muno had the best average. With regular seasons complete in the minors, click here for the statistical leaders. The combined record of the Mets' seven U.S.-based affiliates was 388-373. St. Lucie, Savannah and Brooklyn qualified for the postseason.

• Read game summaries in the Times, Record and Star-Ledger.

BIRTHDAYS: One-time top outfield prospect Alex Escobar, who was sent to Cleveland in the December 2001 deal for Roberto Alomar, turns 33.

Chris Capuano struck out a career-high 13 batters and tossed his first shutout since July 6, 2006 with the Milwaukee Brewers. "I purposely kept not looking at how many pitches, so I wouldn't know how many I'd thrown," Capuano said.

The Mets won a homestand opener for the first time this season. They had been 0-10. Losing 10 straight homestand openers had matched the record for major league futility, previously done by the 1979 Mets.

The Mets, like the rest of the Northeast, now brace for Hurricane Irene, with play slated to resume Monday with a doubleheader against the Florida Marlins. Dillon Gee and R.A. Dickey take the mound that day in a revised rotation schedule.

Saturday news reports:

• ESPN Stats & Information's Mark Simon compares Capuano's outing to Tom Seaver's best as a Met on July 9, 1969. "That's probably the only time I'll be talked about in the same sentence as Tom Seaver," Capuano said.

• Jose Reyes went 1-for-3 with a homer and played seven innings at shortstop in his second rehab game with Double-A Binghamton. He is due to play a full nine innings on Saturday with the B-Mets, weather-permitting, and plans to be activated Monday. Reyes continued to suggest his strained left hamstring appears to have healed. "He said the first day he wasn't going to steal any bases," B-Mets manager Wally Backman said Saturday night. "Tonight, he didn't have to steal any bases, he just had to trot around the bases. Jose has told me he feels great. His legs look great. That's a good thing. He's got a shot at winning the batting title. We'll have fun with it tomorrow for the last day." Read more in the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin.

Terry Collins still is planning for Reyes to be back in 2012. He said the shortstop will definitely get sporadic rest next year in a Mets uniform, because it's better to have Reyes in the starting lineup for 150 games healthy than to lose him periodically throughout the year because of injury and for him to only play only 100 games. Read more in the Post.

• Jason Bay was scratched from Friday's game after jamming his right shoulder in Philadelphia attempting a diving catch against Placido Polanco Tuesday. The team reported an MRI came up clean. Read more in the Star-Ledger.

• In a non-story that persists, David Wright was asked Friday about being placed on waivers by the Mets earlier tis month. Virtually all players in the majors are placed on waivers in August and then either clear or are pulled back. It is nothing specific to Wright. Wright noted the difference is that these days the secretive process is leaked more than in years' past.

"It just seems like this year has become more of one where front-office people are talking about what happens on waivers," Wright said, as quoted in Newsday. "I'm sure that I've been put on waivers before. I'm sure that I've been claimed, so I just think it's part of the process. But this is the first year I can remember it being somewhat of an issue. I don't really remember so many players, kind of the cat getting out of the bag, and who claimed them and this and that. But I guess that's the direction it's going. It doesn't affect me one way or another. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it or think twice about being put on waivers."

• Read game stories in the Times, Star-Ledger, Record, Post, Daily News and Newsday.

• With Scott Hairston (strained oblique) joining Jon Niese (strained intercostal muscle) on the disabled list, the Mets promoted 40-year-old right-hander Miguel Batista before Friday's game. Batista, or possibly D.J. Carrasco, will start Thursday against the Florida Marlins. Rosters expand that day, Sept. 1. The Mets will need a starter Friday as well in D.C. Presumably, Chris Schwinden and Pat Misch would be candidates.

• The postponed weekend games will be made up with a single-admission doubleheader against the Braves on Sept. 8, with first pitch at 4:10 p.m. Saturday tickets are good for that date. Sunday tickets must be exchanged for a ticket of comparable value. Read more in Star-Ledger.

• Where will the Mets go during a hurricane/tropical storm? Bay, who lives in Westchester, said he will just ride it out in his home. But Justin Turner, who lives in a Long Island City evacuation zone, is going to spend time on higher ground with Jason Isringhausen. Gee is going to join Josh Thole in Binghamton, where Thole's in-laws reside. A handful of players were considering riding out the storm at Citi Field. Read more in the Record and Times.

• The Mets' Arizona Fall League contingent will include right-handers Collin McHugh and Brandon Moore, second baseman Reese Havens and outfielder Juan Lagares, according to Lynn Worthy in the Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin.

BIRTHDAYS: Former outfielder Brian McRae turns 44. ... Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux, a reliever for the Mets in 1993 and '94, turns 50.

Nick Evans had a three-run homer and four RBIs and Bobby Parnell notched his second major league save as the Mets beat the Phillies, 7-4, Wednesday afternoon to snap a five-game losing streak. The Mets are off Thursday before playing host to the Atlanta Braves this weekend at Citi Field.

Thursday's news reports:

• Jose Reyes begins a rehab assignment Thursday with Double-A Binghamton, weather-permitting. Reyes is scheduled to play three straight rehab games with the B-Mets, take Sunday off, then be activated from the disabled list Monday.

• Ronny Paulino will have a potentially broken toe examined in New York on Thursday. The best-case scenario is Paulino avoids the DL and serves as a pinch-hitter. He would need a pinch-runner, as Chris Capuano did for Paulino on Wednesday when the injured catcher walked in the seventh inning.

Jon Niese landed on the DL on Wednesday with an intercostal muscle strain on his right side, but hopes to return by season's end -- no guarantee. Mike Nickeas replaced the southpaw on the roster, since Paulino is unable to catch for the time being no matter what the DL fate.

Scott Hairston (left oblique) is due to be placed on the DL before Friday's game. So if Paulino lands on the DL, that's three players in a three-day span lost.

• The Mets need as many as two starters from Triple-A Buffalo during next week's series against the Marlins, but rainouts are forecast, potentially alleviating the need to use two of three from Miguel Batista, Pat Misch and Chris Schwinden. Insiders predict the 40-year-old Batista, who was released by the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this season, may be with the Mets as soon as this Friday's series opener against the Braves and is the best option to start. (The Post says a Sunday rainout against the Braves could be made up during a series in Atlanta in September, with the Mets as home team one game, although the more likely scenario is a mutual Sept. 8 off-day.)

Batista, meanwhile, allowed four runs on nine hits, including a pair of homers, in 5 2/3 innings in his past start, but the newly promoted Nickeas said: "That line can be taken with a grain of salt a little bit because it was in Columbus. The couple of homers that they hit, it's a small park, and the wind was blowing out. I would say they actually didn't hit him that hard. They just hit homers there."

Nickeas went on to say Batista has "a lot" left at age 40.

"His velocity has been good," Nickeas said. "His command has improved steadily since he started."

• Read more on the assorted injuries in Newsday, the Star-Ledger and Post.

• Phillies broadcaster Gary Matthews Sr. called the Mets "crybabies" as the result of Mike Pelfrey complaining to Placido Polanco in-game about trying to get hit. Matthews went on to say that's why the Mets lose. Pelfrey responded that he did not care, and that he was called worse by a Mets fan in the bullpen warming up before Wednesday's start.

The Daily News' Andy Martino tweets this exchange he had with Matthews in the press box/broadcast area after Matthews' on-air comments:

Read game coverage from Wednesday's win in the Star-Ledger, Post, Record, Daily News and Newsday.

• Parnell did have a save in 2009, but that was because he pitched the final three innings of a 9-0 win against the Cardinals. So polishing off Wednesday's win by protecting a three-run lead, albeit with two walks, felt particularly satisfying -- and nervewracking -- for Parnell.

• Evans had a big game and may see some semi-regular playing time, since Lucas Duda should be used more so in right field than first base during the season's final month.

• Every year fans get frenzied over a high-profile player getting placed on waivers and then pulled back in August. Troy Renck of the Denver Post writes via Twitter (@TroyRenck): "I have learned the Rockies put a claim in on David Wright. ... Not sure who was awarded claim. ... Mets not interested in moving him. But it does show, as I have written, Rox really like Wright. If he becomes available, they will make play for him this winter. Teams put players on waivers to see who claims them to set groundwork for future trades, etc. 99 percent of time amounts to nothing. But it can give a team a starting point in trade talks. ... AGAIN, Mets have made clear they are NOT moving Wright. If changes, Rox will act."

Bottom line: If you only placed on waivers players you intended to trade, you would be telegraphing who you intended to trade. The most logical players to trade -- Jason Isringhausen, Tim Byrdak and Hairston -- all cannot be moved this month. All three were claimed and then pulled back by the Mets, a source told ESPNNewYork.com.

• Terry Collins is under control through 2013, including a team option, and there's really no issue about whether he's going to be around. But the Daily News writes:

His contract expires after next season, and a man can become a lame duck quickly in New York. If the Mets finish poorly, and begin 2012 with a cluster of losses, it could be Willie Watch, or Jerry Watch, all over again. Unless ... There remains a solid possibility that the Mets, even after they probably finish below last year's 79-83 record, will endorse Collins by exercising his 2013 contract option this fall or winter. A high-ranking Mets source said yesterday that there have been "no internal discussions" about picking up the Collins option, but predicted those discussions would happen in the next "three to four weeks," and did not rule out the possibility of guaranteeing that third year shortly after the season ends.

BIRTHDAYS: Pedro Feliciano, whose signing with the Yankees last offseason netted the Mets the 44th overall pick in the draft, which was used for Oklahoma prep right-hander Michael Fulmer, turns 35. ... Catcher Choo Choo Coleman was born on this date in 1937. ... Gary Matthews Jr. turns 37.

Mike Nickeas has joined the Mets for Wednesday's matinee series finale against the Phillies. Nickeas, a catcher, officially takes the roster spot of Jon Niese. Niese officially has a right intercostal strain, and he hopes to return this season. Scott Hairston (oblique) will be active, at least technically, for the game at Citizens Bank Park but should land on the DL before Friday's game.

Ronny Paulino has an injured toe that may be broken, necessitating a third catcher. An initial X-ray was inconclusive, so Paulino will have another X-ray Thursday. The expectation is Paulino would stay active to pinch-hit, but probably he will need a runner. Paulino suffered the injury on a foul ball while catching.

Hairston and Niese traveled to New York before Wednesday's game.

Not only did the Mets lose, 9-4, to the Phillies on Tuesday to match a season-low at eight games under .500, the Amazin's also lost two more players to the disabled list. Jon Niese and Scott Hairston both had side muscle injuries.

The Mets already needed a spot starter because of a doubleheader Monday against the Marlins. Now they'll need two starters for that series -- the other to fill Niese's rotation spot. Terry Collins expected the candidates to be Miguel Batista, Chris Schwinden and Pat Misch.

Mike Nickeas is expected to join the Mets as a third catcher to take Hairston's roster spot. The rumblings, while not certain, are that Batista is most likely to be around sooner than later.

Wednesday's news reports:

• Angel Pagan, who left Monday's lineup with a gastric issue, returned to center field on Tuesday. The center fielder said his health trouble, while in check, is no laughing matter. He has suffered from colitis, an intestional issue, since 2004 as a Mets farmhand. He even once landed on the disabled list while with the Chicago Cubs as a result of the issue. Read more in the Post and Newsday.

• Philadelphia-based attorney John V. Donnelly and University of Dayton bankruptcy law expert Jeff Morris discuss the status of the $1 billion lawsuit against Fred Wilpon and family in the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme mess. A judge is expected to rule by late September on whether to toss the case in whole or in part.

• Johan Santana was due to return to a mound on Tuesday in Port St. Lucie for the first time since appearing for Class A St. Lucie on July 28. (Newsday had him throwing 45 pitches during the session.) The Mets hope Santana can be in a game again during the final week of the minor league regular season -- the first week of September. They have not completely written off Santana appearing in the majors this year, but the timetable is not favorable, even without another setback. The best-case scenario may be one game at the very end of the season.

• Gary Carter, whose more intense round of chemotherapy had been delayed, now has a sufficient white-blood-cell count to proceed.

• Jose Reyes will begin a three-game rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Thursday. He will have an off-day Sunday, then should rejoin the Mets for Monday's doubleheader at Citi Field against the Marlins.

• Hotels in Philadelphia swayed, but Mets players who already had arrived at Citizens Bank Park mostly barely felt a ripple from Tuesday's earthquake centered in Virginia. Read more in Newsday, the Record and Star-Ledger.

• Ruben Tejada batted second and went 1-for-4 on Tuesday, while Lucas Duda started in right field and belted a two-run homer in the eighth off Michael Stutes.

• The Mets actually stared at five called third strikes from plate umpire Tim Welke over the first two innings -- all with two runners in scoring position. "I don't mind umpires calling strikes," Collins said. "Make no mistake about it. Tim called them the same for both sides. When the strikes are being called, you've got to be a little bit aggressive. ... We took them and struck out." Read Niese-Hairston injury stories/game recaps in the Times, Post, Star-Ledger, Record, Dailly News and Newsday.

BIRTHDAY: Former reliever Bartolome Fortunato, who was acquired from Tampa Bay with Victor Zambrano in the Scott Kazmir trade on July 30, 2004, turns 37.

Jon Niese and Scott Hairston will be placed on the DL with rib cage injuries, Terry Collins said after Tuesday's loss in Philadelphia.

Niese reinjured a muscle on his right side, under his rib cage, delivering a pitch to Philadelphia's Hunter Pence in the third inning. The southpaw originally injured the area in his previous start in San Diego, and was pushed back a day before facing the Phillies to give extra time to rest.

Hairston injured his right intercostal muscle swinging at a slider away later in Tuesday's game.

"It was one of those pitches where it's a sudden movement," Hairston said. "Although we do as hitters take swings like that occasionally, it's not a normal body function. It's just one of those things where I rotated in the wrong position and I guess strained the muscle. ... Right now, put it this way: I wouldn't feel comfortable taking a swing the way it feels now."

Hairston recalled missing a month in 2007 with a pulled oblique, but described this injury as less severe. He expected to receive an MRI after the Mets return home following Wednesday's matinee in Philly.

In addition to two immediate call-ups, the Mets also will have to fill two starting assignments early next week against the Marlins -- Niese's turn as well as a doubleheader game Monday. Collins expected the two starters would be selected from Chris Schwinden, Miguel Batista and Pat Misch at Triple-A Buffalo.

Niese regretted not speaking up after the issue got intense delivering the pitch to Pence. The next batter, John Mayberry Jr., belted a three-run homer as Philadelphia took a 4-0 lead en route to a 9-4 win. Niese said the pain intensifies as he finishes a pitch.

"It was the 1-2 pitch to Hunter Pence that he fouled straight back that I felt it," Niese said. "After his at-bat, I probably should have said something. I just tried to tough it out. Unfortunately, the pain was just lingering there. It felt really good to start off the game. During the bullpen I didn't feel anything. The first couple of innings I didn't feel anything. And I think when I got in that jam there where I was facing Pence, I kind of let it go. And that's when I felt it."

Niese did not quibble with the decision to proceed with the start after the issue arose in his last game, against the Padres.

"Like I said, I felt good," Niese said. "I don't know what I would have said to myself if I didn't start. If I didn't start, I probably would have said I should have started. In retrospect, now, I probably should have waited a little bit. I don't know if I damaged it more. I doubt it. It's one of those things where I can't pitch with it. I just have to get it better and go from there."

As for Collins indicating Niese would land on the disabled list, the southpaw agreed.

"I was going to put myself on the DL after the way it feels," he said. "It's hurting. That's why I feel terrible. I should have said something after that (Pence) at-bat. I let the game get away, and I just feel awful for it. I did the best I could with what I had. ... When you're in the heat of the battle, I just was a little hard-headed I guess. I wanted to tough it out. Obviously it was something where every pitch I felt something and it got out of hand."

WHAT IT MEANS: The Mets matched their season low-water mark by dropping eight games under .500 at 60-68. They also opened the season 5-13. The not-so-Amazin’s have lost five straight and 17 of 22.

With a matinee on Wednesday, Terry Collins pulled David Wright and Jason Bay from the game in the middle of the seventh, after the Mets’ scored their opening run on Justin Turner’s groundout to trim the deficit to eight runs. Lucas Duda added a two-run homer in the eighth.

NOT SO NIESE: Jon Niese, pushed back a day because he tweaked his back striking out during his previous start in San Diego, allowed a career-high eight earned runs. Niese also allowed eight runs against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 31, 2010, but five were unearned that time.

Niese lasted only four innings on this night, matching his shortest outing of the season (also an 11-0 drubbing by Roy Halladay and the Phillies on April 7).

Shane Victorino opened the scoring with a solo homer in the third. John Mayberry Jr. added a three-run shot later that frame.

Niese departed with the bases loaded and none out in the fifth. All three inherited runners scored against Pedro Beato as the Phillies grabbed a 9-0 lead. The final two runs that inning came home when Angel Pagan misread Victorino’s liner and it landed over the center fielder’s head for a two-run triple.

WATCH MEN: The Mets stranded five runners over the first two innings against Vance Worley, but that barely tells the story. With second and third base occupied in the first two frames, the Mets struck out FIVE times looking -- Duda and Nick Evans in the first, then Niese, Pagan and newly installed No. 2 hitter Ruben Tejada in the second.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Mets try to avoid the sweep as Mike Pelfrey (6-10, 4.61 ERA) opposes right-hander Kyle Kendrick (7-5, 3.24) in Wednesday’s 1:05 p.m. start.

Jose Reyes is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Binghamton on Thursday and play three to four games with the Double-A club, Terry Collins said.

Reyes ran the bases before Monday’s Mets-Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park. He plans to do so again Tuesday before shipping out on the rehab assignment for a strained left hamstring in upstate New York.

“Less tomorrow because I’m getting close to playing in the game,” Reyes said about the intensity of Tuesday’s activity. “I’m not going to go crazy, because the last five days I’ve been running a lot.”

Coincidentally, Jeff Wilpon is visiting Binghamton tonight, with 2010 first-round pick Matt Harvey on the mound.

OUTER DIMENSION: Team insiders continue to expect the line on the wall in left field to be reduced to eight feet in 2012, making shots such as Jason Bay’s double off the top of the wall Sunday a homer rather than in play. The only other change being considered is to the “Mo Zone” in right field to eliminate the crevice, but that is far less of a certainty. “I’ll believe it when I see it,” one Mets position player said about expected changes, which have filtered through the clubhouse.

CLOSE CALL: Collins acknowledged discussing with pitching coach Dan Warthen the possibility of Mike Pelfrey being the team’s closer in 2012. The manager explained he was searching for internal alternatives in case Bobby Parnell is not up to the task.

However, Pelfrey working as the closer next season has been dismissed because Collins’ bosses believe Pelfrey’s annual 200-inning contribution would be too difficult to replace.

Collins thought Pelfrey would make a good closing candidate because he’s “durable.”

Said the manager: “I said, ‘Here’s a guy who I know can throw 95-97 mph, commands three pitches. They don’t really run on him much. And he can go out there five days a week, maybe six.’ It was just a thought I had. And I ran it by Pelf one day talking in the outfield. He said, ‘Yeah, I’ll close if you want me to close.’ It hasn’t gone much farther than that.’”

And it won’t go farther?

“Probably not,” Collins said. “It’s one thing to say, it’s another thing to replace 200 innings, which he’s going to give you.”

OUCH: Dillon Gee jumped ahead of Jon Niese in the rotation and is taking Monday’s start because Niese hurt his back on an awkward swing while striking out in San Diego. Niese will start on Tuesday instead. Because of an off-day last week, Gee was able to start the series opener in Philadelphia on standard rest, affording Niese extra time.

“The pitch he struck out on, he took a real bad swing at it,” Collins said about Niese. “The next day his right side was bothering him a little bit, so we backed him up a day. He’s fine.”

RIGHT STUFF: Lucas Duda will start in right field Tuesday for the first time since Aug. 7, with Nick Evans starting at first base, Collins pledged.

The manager said he will wait until September to play Duda semi-full time in right field – Duda’s logical 2012 position. While the manager did not mention it, once rosters expand, Josh Satin is likely to be a September call-up and can man first base.

Duda, incidentally, fully expects to play winter ball. The most likely landing spot is Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League, although Duda has not fully ruled out the Dominican Republic. Tim Teufel is succeeding Mets hitting coach Dave Hudgens as manager with Caracas, making it a natural fit.

SPOT START: Because of a doubleheader next Monday against the Florida Marlins, the Mets need a spot starter that day, or next Tuesday. Collins acknowledged the starter will come from Triple-A Buffalo.

The two candidates would appear to be 24-year-old Chris Schwinden (7-6, 3.60 ERA) or 40-year-old Miguel Batista. Paul DePodesta is watching Buffalo on Monday, with Batista scheduled to start.

While it would appear logical to use the younger pitcher, Schwinden, who might help in 2012, Collins said that is not a factor. Collins said the Mets would go with who is recommended as the best available arm from the Bisons, and added that he would only defer to a younger pitcher for development purposes if it was multiple starts that were needed.

So it may very well be Batista against the Marlins next week instead of Schwinden. A team insider added that there is concern Schwinden may be running out of gas, having already logged 133 innings this season -- 20 more than last season’s total.

EXPANSION PLANS: A team insider said he expects five to seven call-ups once rosters expand, although the decisions are still fluid. Mike Nickeas as a third catcher is a no-brainer, as is Satin for infield work. Binghamton right-hander Josh Stinson also is expected to get the call, although fellow B-Met Robert Carson may get passed over. The Mets do not plan to call up any outfielders, since they have plenty on the roster. Corner infielder Zach Lutz is on the bubble, but probably on the outside. One issue: If Satin gets some starts at first base and David Wright is at third base, Lutz would struggle to get playing time.

The Mets do not lack 40-man roster spots. They are currently at 39, and can transfer Daniel Murphy, Taylor Buchholz and Ike Davis to the 60-day DL to free up room for three more additions.

AWARD WINNER: Savannah right-hander Taylor Whitenton was named South Atlantic League pitcher of the week.

The Mets will take advantage of an off-day last week to give Jon Niese an extra day of rest between starts.

Niese, listed as Monday's starter against the Phillies, actually will start on Tuesday instead opposite Vance Worley. Dillon Gee gets the opener on standard rest opposite Cliff Lee, jumping ahead of Niese in the order.

Niese last pitched last Tuesday at San Diego. He has logged 153 1/3 innings this season, and contributed 173 2/3 innings a season ago.