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Left-hander Jack Leathersich owns the Division II UMass Lowell single-season strikeout record. His gaudy K totals have continued as a pro, since getting drafted in the fifth round last June.

Leathersich, who made his high-A St. Lucie debut on Tuesday night, has now fanned 66 batters in 39 1/3 pro relief innings through stops with Brooklyn, Savannah and now in the Florida State League. He has surrendered only 18 hits. Not bad for a kid who threw 85 mph as a high school senior and described himself as "tiny" back then -- 5-foot-8, 150 pounds.

Leathersich's fastball now sits at 91-93 mph and tops out at 95-96 mph when he's aiming for a strikeout. He also throws a circle change as well as what he describes as a slurve -- "kind of in the middle … not really like a 12-to-6 (curveball), but not like a hard slider. It kind of comes in diagonal."

Said Leathersich: "I don’t really go out there trying to strike people out. I never really have. Getting ahead is the biggest thing for me. When I get ahead 0-1, 1-2, 0-2, I do try to put them away. I try to get them out of there. But I've been working actually a lot this year on not going so deep in the counts -- trying to get one-, two-pitch outs."

Leathersich burst onto the radar while competing in the prestigious Cape Cod League during college. He was one of only the three or four Division II players invited, by his count. That's where he picked up his nickname -- "Rocket." His Twitter handle remains @LeatherRocket.

"My buddy, Marcus Stroman -- he's going to be a top-10 pick this year, from Duke -- he just started calling me that," Leathersich said. "We were roommates. He pitched the ninth inning and I pitched the eighth normally. I don't know. It kind of just stuck."

Leathersich's best experience as a pro so far? That would have to be his Aug. 30 appearance for Brooklyn last season. The Lowell Spinners are in that league, and share a stadium with Leathersich's college program. Pitching as a pro on the field where he was a college standout, Leathersich tossed two scoreless innings, striking out the side in his first frame.

"That was crazy," Leathersich said. "That was definitely a pretty cool moment in my life. Everybody was there. I mean, everybody from my town (Beverly, Mass.), which is only a half-hour away. And everybody from Lowell, where I went to school. The place was pretty packed. It was a rush when I got called into the game."

In his Florida State League debut Tuesday, Leathersich surrendered his first professional homer. He was charged with two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out three in 2 2/3 innings.

"Anybody, I feel, who says that they don't have to work on anything is lying to you," Leathersich said. "I've definitely been working on my offspeed a lot -- changeup, curveball, throwing it in any count for a strike. That's what (Savannah pitching coach) Frank Viola and I were really working on when I was down there. He's helped me out tremendously with everything. … I'm just going to keep working on my offspeed pitches and holding runners, fielding my position and all of the stuff I had been working on in Savannah."

Organization leaders

Average: Bobby Scales, Buffalo, .339; T.J. Rivera, Savannah, .333; Jefry Marte, Binghamton, .321; Matt den Dekker, Binghamton, .310; Eric Campbell, Binghamton, .310; Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, .310; Vinny Rottino, Buffalo, .307; Matt Tuiasosopo, Buffalo, .301; Juan Lagares, Binghamton, .293; Danny Muno, St. Lucie, .283.

Homers: Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 11; Travis Taijeron, Savannah, 8; Cory Vaughn, St. Lucie, 8; Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, 7.

RBI: Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 34; Aderlin Rodriguez, Savannah, 29; Travis Taijeron, Savannah, 27; Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, 25; Vinny Rottino, Buffalo, 25.

Steals: Luis Nieves, Savannah, 9; Cesar Puello, St. Lucie, 9; Wilfredo Tovar, St. Lucie, 9; Pedro Zapata, Binghamton, 8.

ERA: Zack Wheeler, Binghamton, 2.15; Collin McHugh, Binghamton, 2.15; Tyler Pill, Savannah, 2.29; Angel Cuan, St. Lucie, 2.37; Alex Panteliodis, Savannah, 2.63; Rafael Montero, Savannah, 2.64; Chase Huchingson, St. Lucie, 2.68; Jeremy Hefner, Buffalo, 2.72; Chris Schwinden, Buffalo, 2.72; Dylan Owen, Buffalo, 3.19.

Wins: Chase Huchingson, St. Lucie, 5.

Saves: Adrian Rosario, Binghamton, 12; Fernando Cabrera, Buffalo, 9; T.J. Chism, Savannah, 6; Adam Kolarek, St. Lucie, 4.

Strikeouts: Matt Harvey, Buffalo, 49; Garrett Olson, Buffalo, 49; Jeurys Familia, Buffalo, 45; Collin McHugh, Binghamton, 45; Zack Wheeler, Binghamton, 45.

Short hops

• Infielder Danny Muno, the Mets' eighth-round pick in 2011 out of Fresno State, was suspended 50 games for a positive test for a metabolite of Drostanolone, a performance-enhancing drug, Major League Baseball announced Friday. Muno, 23, had been hitting .283 with five homers and 23 RBIs while batting leadoff and manning second base for Class A St. Lucie. Robbie Shields, a third-round pick in 2009 from Florida Southern College, has taken over at second base for the Florida State League club. Alonzo Harris Jr. has assumed the vacated leadoff spot. Since Muno's suspension, Harris is hitting .391 (9-for-23) with five runs scored in five games. That has upped the Mississippi high school product's average 38 points, to .271.

• Left-hander Josh Edgin opened enough eyes in spring training that he formally was added to camp in March after initially not receiving an invite. Now, he has not allowed an earned run in his past six relief appearances with Triple-A Buffalo. Edgin touched 95 mph with his fastball Monday, then tossed a no-hit inning with two strikeouts Tuesday against Indianapolis.

• Right-hander Collin McHugh (4-3, 2.15 ERA in nine starts) has been a bright spot in a Double-A Binghamton rotation that largely has struggled of late. He had completed at least seven innings in each of his past three outings, until that streak ended Tuesday when McHugh served up a solo homer to open the seventh inning at New Britain that broke a scoreless tie, then hit a batter with the next pitch and was ejected. "My ejection from the game tonight was completely absurd!" McHugh tweeted afterward. "I did not throw at ANYONE, nor would I consider it in a 1 run game in the 7th."

McHugh, an 18th-round pick in 2008 out of Berry College, has allowed only six earned runs in 27 1/3 innings during his past four starts. McHugh made his Double-A debut on May 31, 2011. In what is now a full year in the Eastern League, the Atlanta native has compiled a 12-5 record and 2.62 ERA in 27 appearances (25 starts).

• Right-hander Elvin Ramirez, the former Rule 5 pick returned to the Mets after spending a season on the Nationals' 40-man roster with shoulder woes, has yet to allow a run in seven Triple-A appearances. In nine scoreless innings, he has limited opponents to three hits while striking out 10, walking none and hitting one batter. Opponents are hitting .100 (3-for-30) against him. Ramirez began the season with Binghamton.

• Josh Satin is 6-for-his-last-14 with eight walks during that stretch. He nearly exclusively has played first base with the Bisons.

• Jordany Valdespin delivered a pinch-hit homer Saturday for Buffalo, on the day he awoke in Toronto and then was demoted to clear a roster spot for Jeremy Hefner. In two subsequent games while starting at second base, though, Valdespin went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts. He committed two errors Sunday. Brad Emaus started at second base Tuesday, and Valdespin was retired as a pinch hitter.

• Fernando Cabrera is 9-for-9 in save opportunities with the Bisons.

• The Mets released 22-year-old right-hander Eduardo Aldama. He went 3-5 with a 5.37 ERA at Class A Brooklyn last season.

(Read full post)

Brandon Morrow tossed a three-hit shutout and the Mets lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, 2-0, Saturday at Rogers Centre. Dillon Gee starts Sunday's 1:07 p.m. game, trying to prevent the Amazin's from getting swept north of the border.

Regarding the Mets' offense, Terry Collins said, the Mets can't be patient to a fault in driving up pitch counts.

"We’ve got to start grinding out some at-bats," Collins said. "It goes back to exactly what we talked about a couple of weeks ago, and that's: It’s not about taking pitches. It’s about being patient, and when you get the pitch you want, hit it. Brandon was in the strike zone today. He was making good pitches early in the count. And we're down early, 0-1, 0-2. I don’t want these guys to think they've got to go up there and just take the good pitches they can hit."

Sunday's news reports:

• Miguel Batista was forced to leave Saturday's game after tossing two scoreless innings because of a pulled muscle in his lower back. Jeremy Hefner, promoted from Triple-A Buffalo, entered in relief and limited the Jays to two runs in five innings but was charged with the loss. Chris Schwinden will arrive Sunday in Toronto as a taxi-squad member, and presumably has a good chance of being activated as a hedge against Gee having a short outing, with Batista landing on the DL.

Jordany Valdespin had been demoted before Saturday's game to make room for Hefner. Valdespin will play second base with the Bisons. The Mets will promote a position player before Monday's game in Pittsburgh, Collins indicated. Collins said Hefner would start in Batista's place Thursday at Citi Field if the 41-year-old right-hander lands on the DL. Read more in Newsday, the Record, Star-Ledger and Post.

• Mike Baxter was ruled out at second base in the ninth inning on an apparent blown call. Had Baxter been credited with a double, the Mets would have had two runners in scoring position with one out in the ninth, trailing by two runs. Read more in the Post.

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

• There's no indication Ike Davis is in imminent danger of a demotion. But the number of notable names getting demoted is, well, notable. First, the Braves sent Jair Jurrjens to Triple-A Gwinnett. First baseman Adam Lind is reportedly on waivers for the purpose of being removed from the 40-man roster and demoted by the Blue Jays. And, now, first baseman Gaby Sanchez, who was hitting .197 with one homer with Miami, has been demoted too. “We don’t think he’s a .190 hitter,” Marlins GM Michael Hill told the Miami Herald about Sanchez, an All-Star last season. “We think he’s better than he’s showing here. We think he’s pressing. We want to take some of the pressure off him, get him down to Triple-A, and get him right.” Davis is hitting .160 after going 0-for-3 Saturday in Toronto.

• Pedro Beato began an official rehab assignment Saturday night with Class A St. Lucie, tossing two scoreless innings. He is on the 60-day DL because of a shoulder issue that arose during spring training. Jenrry Mejia, meanwhile, allowed one run on six hits while striking out three and walking none in three innings for Double-A Binghamton. He threw only 48 pitches in his first Double-A start since Tommy John surgery, but Sandy Alderson said that roughly was the prescribed length. Mejia had higher pitch counts in two previous starts for St. Lucie. Also Saturday, Vinny Rottino had three homers for Triple-A Buffalo. Read the Saturday's full minor league recap here.

• David Wright was sicker Saturday than the previous day and was unavailable. Still, he already has informed Collins he wants to play Sunday. Read more in the Daily News.

• Anthony McCarron pens a feature in the Daily News celebrating Wright's leadership by example. Regarding Wright bickering with Collins in the dugout because he wanted to remain in Tuesday's game against Milwaukee to get drilled as payback for D.J. Carrasco hitting Ryan Braun, Ron Darling said: “I think there were probably people on the bench who didn’t understand what the hullabaloo was about at all and were taught a valuable lesson. 'What? Get hit? Who wants to get hit?’ He basically said, 'I know how the game is played and I know what we have to do in certain situations and I’m willing to do that.' David is one of those rare current players who could’ve played in any generation. There is a real courage in the way he plays the game. Guy played three weeks with a back that was broken last year, hits a homer with a broken finger because he knows his team needs him. I watch him play, and it makes me proud that I was part of the fraternity.”

• Collins believes Ruben Tejada (quadriceps) could be in a minor league rehab game as soon as Monday. Jason Bay (fractured rib) may take batting practice that day in Pittsburgh. Chris Young, who took a brief break with his wife due to give birth, is expected to resume his comeback with Class A St. Lucie on Friday. It will be Young's third minor league start with the Florida State League club since May 16, 2011 surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his right shoulder.

• David Lennon in Newsday reviews the early impact of the wall changes at Citi Field. He notes Gee's amusement at hearing during the trip to Miami's new ballpark about Marlins players already expressing discontent with the cavernous dimensions. As a result of the Citi Field changes, there have been 10 additional homers this season that would have remained in play under the old configuration -- six by opponents, four by the Mets (Kirk Nieuwenhuis 2, Lucas Duda, Wright). "I enjoy it," Wright told Lennon. "Obviously, it's smaller, so I enjoy that. But it's tough, I guess, to describe the effect that it has because it's still relatively early. A lot of how the ball carries has to do with the weather, and the weather has been chilly, rainy and windy."

Still, Citi Field has not become a homer haven. Writes Lennon:

Through the first 20 home games, there have been 26 home runs hit at Citi Field, and that frequency of 1.3 per game is tied (with Wrigley Field) for 13th-best in the National League . Only AT&T Park (0.84), PETCO Park (0.96) and Marlins Park (1.24) had produced fewer. Before Citi's changes are deemed inconsequential, however, consider this: According to ESPN Home Run Tracker, 10 home runs needed the new dimensions to clear the walls, and if there were only 16 home runs to this point, that drops the average rate to a minuscule 0.80 -- the lowest in either league. "It's only a small sample size," Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said. "But at the same time, that's still a dramatic impact."

Jeff Wilpon told Lennon: "It doesn't look like a sore thumb sticking out, in the terms of the changes that we made. I think it's been very successful in that sense. We knew it wouldn't make a huge difference -- we wanted it to be a moderate difference. ... I wish we were hitting more home runs, either with the benefit of the changes or without the benefits."

• Tyler Kepner in the Times pays homage to Chipper Jones, who is due to retire at season's end. Writes Kepner:

In Chicago, the Cubs gave him a Braves flag that flew above the scoreboard at Wrigley Field. In Denver, the Rockies gave him a camera to mount on his hunting bow. The Houston Astros gave him a cowboy hat, and the St. Louis Cardinals presented a jersey signed by Stan Musial. “It was really cool in St. Louis when he came up to bat,” Braves reliever Craig Kimbrel said. “They kind of stopped the game. They were already losing in the first inning, but he came up to bat and got a standing ovation.”

Jones told Kepner about last year's Braves historic collapse relative to the team's current success (25-16, first place): "It’s really gratifying because the guys went home in the offseason and used what happened in September as a motivational tool. I’ve said this all along: If we end up winning an Eastern Division championship or a National League championship or a World Series in the next couple of years, I guarantee you all these players will look back at September and say we learned a lot.”

• Critic Bob Raissman in the Daily News praises Collins as a straight shooter. Writes Raissman:

While The Prince of Darkness, John Tortorella, continues perfecting his mummified style, Terry Collins is out in Queens shedding light. The Mets manager will never be cast as Mr. Sunshine. He illuminates by speaking the truth. That’s why the media rarely has a discouraging word about him. Of all the head mouths in town, Collins is the straightest shooter.

• Columnist Jeff Bradley in the Star-Ledger compares the 1993 Yankees to the 2012 Mets in terms of success despite low expectations. Warning: extensive Paul O'Neill quoting.

TRIVIA: Who was the last Pittsburgh Pirate to have a multi-homer game against the Mets?

Saturday's answer: Mike Jacobs was traded to Toronto for a player to be named or cash in the last swap between the Mets and Jays, on July 30, 2010.

BUFFALO 11, INDIANAPOLIS 6: Vinny Rottino blasted three homers and Valentino Pascucci, Jordany Valdespin and Matt Tuiasosopo also went deep. The long-ball barrage gives Buffalo an International League-leading 47 homers, passing Pawtucket (42). The six homers are the most in a game by the Bisons since July 2, 2004. In the third, Rottino and Pascucci crushed back-to-back homers off Indians starter Justin Wilson to push the lead to 4-1. Pascucci's homer was his third in the past two games and 49th in his Bisons career, tying him with ex-Bison Jason Cooper for seventh all time on the Buffalo modern-era home run list. With the score tied at 4 in the sixth, Valdespin -- who began the day in the Mets clubhouse in Toronto -- clobbered a solo homer. Later in the inning, Corey Wimberly and Brad Emaus had consecutive singles, but Emaus would get picked off at first by Indians pitcher Bryan Morris. With Wimberly at second, Rottino produced a two-run blast for a 7-4 lead. Rottino homered again in the eighth with Wimberly on base. More power would follow Rottino's blast. Lucas May singled and Tuiasosopo delivered a two-run homer to increase the Bisons' lead to 11-4. Justin Hampson and Josh Edgin combined to log 4 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Jeurys Familia. Familia was charged with four runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks while striking out three in 3 2/3 innings. He required 87 pitches despite the modest length. Jack Egbert is scheduled to start in Sunday afternoon's game in place of the promoted Jeremy Hefner. Box

BINGHAMTON 6, PORTLAND 5 (10 innings): Pedro Zapata hammered a two-out solo homer over the Maine Monster in the 10th. Zapata’s blast, his first this season, capped a game that saw 10 total runs scored over the final three innings. Trailing 1-0 in the eighth, the B-Mets put up five runs against two Portland relievers to take their first lead of the series. Binghamton sent 10 men to the plate and compiled six hits, highlighted by a two-run homer by Raul Reyes. Portland wasted little time to cut into the deficit. Darin Gorski, in his fifth inning piggybacking Jenrry Mejia's start, allowed back-to-back homers the following half-inning, cutting Binghamton’s lead to one. Reynaldo Rodriguez ripped a two-run shot over the Maine Monster and Bryce Brentz followed with a solo homer. Brad Holt ended the threat by recording two outs, but could not half the Portland comeback in the ninth. Derrik Gibson started the inning with a single and scored two batters later on a sac fly from Jeremy Hazelbaker. After allowing five hits in his first two innings of relief, Will Latimer returned for the 10th and recorded two quick outs before Zapata launched a 1-2 offering over the fence in left field. Adrian Rosario, promoted from St. Lucie on Friday, tossed a perfect 10th inning to collect his first Eastern League save. Mejia navigated the opening three innings in his first start with the B-Mets since August 2010. He allowed the leadoff hitter to reach in every frame and surrendered six hits overall. He struck out three and did not issue any walks. Gorski went 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision, allowing three runs on three hits. Holt (2-0) collected the win after blowing his first save. It was Binghamton’s first win in 18 games this year when trailing after seven innings. Box

ST. LUCIE 7, LAKELAND 3: Pedro Beato and Kyle Allen combined for four no-hit, scoreless relief innings. Blake Forsythe produced two RBIs off the bench after replacing Rafael Fernandez in left field. It was Forsythe's first professional appearance in the outfield. Francisco Pena also drove in two runs. Alonzo Harris Jr. is 5-for-10 in two games since taking over the leadoff spot. Box

SAVANNAH 7, AUGUSTA 4: The Gnats overcame a 4-0 first-inning deficit as Brian Harrison reached base safely in all four of his plate appearances, He went 3-for-3 with a double and four RBIs. In his last 11 games, Harrison is hitting .425 (17-for-40) with five doubles, a triple, a homer and 12 RBIs. Savannah starter Michael Fulmer walked the game's opening batter, who then scored on Fulmer’s own throwing error. After a pair of singles, cleanup hitter Mark Minicozzi’s three-run homer gave the 'Jackets a 4-0 lead before Fulmer had recorded an out. The 29-year-old Minicozzi is 10 years older than the 19-year-old Fulmer. The Gnats (25-16) answered with three runs in the bottom half. After two walks, Aderlin Rodriguez brought home the first run with a double. Harrison followed with a two-run single. Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to seven games. Savannah took a 5-4 lead in the fourth against Kyle Crick. With runners at second and third and two out, Luis Nieves tripled over the head of right fielder Michael Mergenthaler. The Gnats scored in the seventh on Harrison’s two-run double. Fulmer lasted two innings, his shortest outing in seven starts as a Gnat. However, relievers Carlos Vazquez, Chasen Bradford and T.J. Chism combined for seven scoreless, one-hit innings. Vazquez earned the win with four innings of relief work. Box

Compiled from team reports

David Wright, who has a scheduled day off Saturday with the Mets in a 20-games-in-20-day stretch, actually is feeling sicker Saturday than the previous day. Terry Collins said the illness could keep Wright out of Sunday's lineup.

One thing is clear, though: Wright does not like DH'ing because it takes him out of the rhythm at the plate. So Collins said Wright will man third base if he's able to play in the series finale. Wright is available to pinch hit, the manager said.

• The Mets will restore the bench to five position players before Monday's game in Pittsburgh, when the DH is no longer in effect.

Collins said right-hander Jeremy Hefner, who joined the Mets on Saturday in place of Jordany Valdespin, will not necessarily make a U-turn to Buffalo at that point. That suggests there may be at least some consideration about whether Manny Acosta still merits a roster spot. Acosta's ERA swelled to 10.53 on Friday.

"We'll have a decision to make at that point," Collins said in response to an inquiry about whether Hefner returns to Triple-A after the weekend. Hefner had returned to the Bisons immediately after tossing three scoreless innings in his major league debut against the San Francisco Giants last month.

Valdespin is 2-for-20, albeit with a dramatic pinch-hit, three-run homer against Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon, at the major league level. A natural infielder, he mostly had played center field in minor league games this season. Now, though, Valdespin is due to focus on second-base work at Buffalo. That position is open with the Bisons with Bobby Scales having bolted for Japan.

Collins does not see Valdespin as a major league shortstop. That's largely because he has not worked enough in the minors at that position, according to the manager.

If the Mets needed a bona fide shortstop in the future, Collins said, the best Triple-A choice would be ex-Rockie/Ranger Omar Quintanilla. Still, the manager added, Quintanilla is not on the 40-man roster. And the Mets would not necessarily risk losing a minor leaguer through waivers a open 40-man roster spot for Quintanilla.

• Ruben Tejada could be back by the end of Memorial Day weekend. Tejada (strained quadriceps) is due to run in a straight line today and could be in minor league rehab games by Monday. Jason Bay (fractured rib) will hit off a tee today and swing at soft-toss flips Sunday. On Monday in Pittsburgh, the Mets will request permission from team doctors for Bay to begin taking at least light batting practice. Collins expects Tejada to return before Bay.

• Three umpires disappeared between innings early in Friday's game, delaying Jon Niese beginning an inning. There was good reason: Their uniforms and work gear had finally arrived. There are extra umpire uniforms at each major league stadium, but ump Wally Bell had to borrow black cleats from the Mets.

• Daniel Murphy, despite a .331 average, is homerless. Collins says he probably doesn't see Murphy producing more than a dozen homers in any season, saying his swing is geared for line drives.

Jordany Valdespin is out as the Mets will play with a three-man bench (while using the DH) in the American League ballpark this weekend. The move to activate Jeremy Hefner is not yet official, but Valdespin is no longer listed on the active roster in the clubhouse.

David Wright, as predicted, also is off Saturday.

Andres Torres, cf
Mike Baxter, dh
Daniel Murphy, 2b
Lucas Duda, rf
Ike Davis, 1b
Justin Turner, 3b
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, lf
Ronny Cedeño, ss
Mike Nickeas, c

Miguel Batista, rhp

WHAT IT MEANS: Jon Niese surrendered a career-high four homers and matched a career high by surrendering eight runs while lasting only three innings as the Mets were drubbed in their first game in Toronto in six years.

The Blue Jays blasted five homers overall and routed the Mets 14-5 on Friday night at Rogers Centre.

Catcher Rob Johnson pitched the eighth inning and was among the more effective pitchers. He retired the Jays in order that frame. It was Johnson’s first professional experience as a pitcher in the majors or minors. Todd Zeile was the last position player to be used on the mound by the Mets -- on July 26, 2004, at Montreal, in a 19-10 loss.

J.P. Arencibia and Rajai Davis had two homers apiece Friday. Arencibia became the third player this season to have a six-RBI game against the Mets, joining Colorado’s Carlos Gonzalez and Houston’s Chris Johnson.

Chris Capuano was the last Met to serve up four long balls in a game, on May 21 of last season against the Yankees. The franchise record is five homers allowed, by Roger Craig in 1963.

Three innings matched the fourth-shortest start of Niese’s career. He also allowed eight runs last Aug. 23 against the Phillies, as well as in 2010 against the Braves.

Niese consecutively struck out Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, who have a combined 23 homers, with two runners aboard in the first in a scoreless game. However, the southpaw then served up a three-run homer to Arencibia. Before that long ball, batters had been 1-for-36 against Niese with two outs this season.

Arencibia had two of the four homers against Niese. Brazilian-born Yan Gomes also went deep -- his first major league homer. The first of Davis’ two homers came against Niese. The other came against Manny Acosta during a four-run sixth by the Jays that opened a 14-1 lead.

After three runners inherited by Ramon Ramirez all scored, Acosta ultimately was charged with five runs in two innings as his ERA swelled to 10.53.

Scott Hairston’s three-run homer capped an inconsequential four-run eighth for the Mets.

WRIGHT STUFF: David Wright’s first-inning double gave him 1,300 career hits, tying him with Jose Reyes for second on the franchise’s all-time list. Ed Kranepool ranks first with 1,418 hits, although it took Kranepool 18 seasons as a Met to amass that total. Wright went 1-for-3 and is now hitting .409.

Wright, fighting a severe head cold, was pulled in the bottom of the sixth with the Mets trailing by nine runs. Jordany Valdespin entered at shortstop and Ronny Cedeno moved to third base. Wright is due to get the day off Saturday.

DEBUTANT: Robert Carson made his major league debut in the seventh with the Mets trailing by 13 runs. The southpaw worked around a two-out walk to Colby Rasmus to put up a scoreless frame.

WHAT’S NEXT: Miguel Batista (1-1, 4.26 ERA), fresh off tossing seven scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Brewers, opposes right-hander Brandon Morrow (4-2, 2.22) on Saturday at 1:07 p.m. Mike Baxter should be the extra bat in the lineup.

Ruben Tejada is eligible to return from the disabled list May 22, but his absence appears as though it will extend beyond 15 days.

Terry Collins indicated that Tejada (strained right quadriceps) is in Port St. Lucie, Fla., but has not been cleared to do any activity yet. Tejada suffered the injury and tumbled as he reached first base last Sunday at Citi Field trying to leg out a single.

Ronny Cedeno will start a third straight game at shortstop Sunday since being activated from the DL.

Collins considered giving Jordany Valdespin the start instead because the manager felt Valdespin might have success against Marlins right-hander Carlos Zambrano. But with the Marlins using an all-righty lineup (with three switch-hitters -- Jose Reyes, Emilio Bonifacio and Zambrano) against southpaw Jon Niese, Collins wanted to use his best available defensive shortstop.

• Jason Bay (fractured rib) is due to be examined in New York this week before being cleared to proceed to Florida to begin baseball activities.

• Josh Thole (concussion) remains under orders not do to things such as driving a car. Doctors told Thole he was permitted no activity for the first week after colliding with Ty Wigginton in Philadelphia last Monday.

Terry Collins reiterated pregame Friday that Ronny Cedeno is "pretty much" his primary shortstop until Ruben Tejada returns from the disabled list.

So why keep Jordany Valdespin at the major league level for limited at-bats?

Collins, who had indicated days earlier it would be difficult for the rookie Valdespin to stave off a demotion, said with the Mets now playing 20 straight days, Cedeno cannot play every game. (Nor can Daniel Murphy, the manager added.) Collins also said that the Mets have been short lefty bats on the bench when they start their typical lineup against right-handed pitching, so this gives a lefty bat option for pinch-hitting. (The typical bench otherwise are righty hitters Justin Turner, Scott Hairston and the non-starter at catcher, plus lefty hitter Mike Baxter.)

Turner will become more of a first/third base backup.

Vinny Rottino instead was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.

"We've had some issues before where we've ended up having a number of right-handed hitters left," Collins said.

The manager added: "One of the things we're going to talk about to the players today, today starts 20 in a row for the first time. We don't have a lot of those in the season. But that's grueling, 20 in a row. Obviously we're not going to get rained out here. We know that. It's really hard to get rained out at home. Our field is so good, so well taken care of. So we're going to play a lot of games. So we're looking at: We're going to have to give Cedeno a day off. We're going to get Murph a day off. We're going to have to get David Wright a day off, and Ike Davis.

"Jordany Valdespin, yeah, as a prospect, should he be in the lineup every day? You'd like that. But in our case, we're going to have to pick and choose spots to give him in the next couple of weeks."

When is Tejada coming back from the quadriceps strain? He's eligible to be activated May 22.

"I've spent too much time in the past concerning myself with guys I don't have -- 'When are they coming back? When are they getting back? How are they doing?'" Collins responded. "And, you know what, I have no crystal ball. Nobody can tell me today, 'Hey look, it's going to be 10 more days for Ruben Tejada,' or 12 more days. Nothing has changed, but I have to prepare myself for what I have at the moment, and how to keep these guys fresh and make sure they're ready to play. Right now Jordany Valdespin is a part of that mix."

• Collins said he has quizzed managers about the Marlins' spacious ballpark, including Yankees skipper Joe Girardi, who played a pair of exhibition games in Miami before facing the Mets to close out spring training.

On the Marlins' spacious ballpark, Collins said: "They said it's big. It plays big. We're used to it."

Ronny Cedeno is being activated and will be in the lineup for Friday night's series opener, team officials said. Cedeno was taking early batting practice at new Marlins Park with teammates at 2:30 p.m.

Cedeno went 0-for-4 and played a full game at shortstop Thursday night for Class A St. Lucie.

Terry Collins has said he would use Cedeno regularly at shortstop until Ruben Tejada returned from the DL.

Cedeno last played April 20. He went on the DL with a side-muscle strain.

The Mets have yet to announce a corresponding move, but Collins said in Philly that it would be difficult for Jordany Valdespin to survive Cedeno's activation.

After sweeping the Phillies, then an off-day in Miami that apparently included Tim Byrdak and Bobby Parnell going fishing, the Mets open a weekend series at Jose Reyes' new home, month-old Marlins Park. The Marlins have won eight of their past nine, despite ex-Met Heath Bell's struggles leading to him being deposed from the closer role. Read the series preview here.

Friday's news reports:

• Tonight's game will be the 8,000th in the regular season in franchise history. And, barring the highly, highly improbable from Johan Santana, it will be the 8,000th game without a no-hitter in franchise history. Tom Seaver came closest. He carried a no-hit bid for 8 2/3 innings at Wrigley Field on Sept. 24, 1975 against the Chicago Cubs -- although the Mets never scored in that 11-inning loss anyway. Seaver, in 1969, also had a perfect game against the Cubs for 8 1/3 innings at Shea Stadium. The only other major league club without a no-hitter is the San Diego Padres, who launched in 1969, seven years after the Amazin's.

Brian Costa in the Journal takes a deeper look. He speaks with Dirk Lammers, who started the web site nonohitters.com in 2008 to track the Mets' futility. "I thought when I started it, they were probably on the verge of it," Lammers told Costa. "I did not expect it to go five years. But of course, I don't think the team expected it to go 50." Costa reports there have been 252 no-hitters in the majors since 1876 -- and 131 since the Mets debuted in 1962. Seven pitchers who have represented the Mets have gone on to throw one elsewhere, most recently former first-round pick Philip Humber with the Chicago White Sox on April 12. The Mets have 35 one-hitters.

Regarding his near-miss in '69, Seaver tells Costa: "My wife was in tears. I said, 'What are you crying for? I just pitched a one-hit shutout. I didn't walk anybody. I struck out 10. Come on.' She said, 'You lost your perfect game.'" The Journal notes the next milestone will be 8,945 games without a no-hitter, which is the longest drought in MLB history, by the Phillies from 1906 to 1964.

• Chris Young tossed five scoreless innings for Class A St. Lucie in his first official minor league game since undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his right shoulder last May 16. Young will make a handful of minor league starts before likely taking over the rotation spot currently occupied by Miguel Batista. Young has the first of two contract outs on June 1 if he remains in the minors at that point, so that date logically should be close to when Young arrives in the majors.

Ronny Cedeno went 0-for-4 in that same Florida State League game at Brevard County while playing a full game at shortstop. Terry Collins originally expected Cedeno to be activated for Friday's start against Mark Buehrle in Miami, but the manager amended that remark on Wednesday to suggest that he would like to see Cedeno succeed against higher-level minor league pitching before activating him from the DL. Cedeno has been out since an April 20 cameo because of a muscle strain on his left side. Collins has stated Cedeno will be the regular shortstop while Ruben Tejada is on the DL. The manager added that Jordany Valdespin is likely to head to Triple-A Buffalo when Cedeno is activated.

• Zack Wheeler picked up a win in his return from the disabled list with Double-A Binghamton, while Domingo Tapia and Marcos Camarena combined to take a no-hit bid with low-A Savannah into the seventh inning. Read Thursday's full minor league recap here.

• Ike Davis, whose average remains at .179, has shown signs of breaking out of the season-long funk. He launched a lengthy three-run homer against Jose Contreras in the eighth inning on Wednesday. “I’m a good baseball player," Davis told the Daily News. "I know I am. If I thought this was the best I could do, then I would tell you that: ‘This is the best I can do.’ And then this wouldn’t be as frustrating. ... This is obviously not the way I wanted the year to go, but you have to have perspective: I’m alive. I’m healthy. I’m here.”

GM Sandy Alderson tells Andrew Keh in the Times regarding Davis: "I’m sure he’s not happy with the first month-plus of the season, and certainly we have expected more. But, at the same time, we know it’s in there. We’ve just had to be a little bit patient.” Writes Keh:

Dave Hudgens, the team’s hitting coach, has seen Davis become more serious while he has tackled his recent shortcomings. The slump, Hudgens said, like any other, has been the product of a confluence of factors, each one exacerbating the next. Davis possesses a swing with a considerable amount of preparatory movement and, more than most of his teammates, he relies on rhythm. According to Hudgens, Davis has been allowing his body to rush out ahead of his hands. As his struggles have continued, he has become prone to chasing pitches out of the strike zone. Hudgens said that in recent days, the two had changed the position of Davis’ hands, moving them slightly higher, and that he had encouraged Davis to slow down and focus on driving balls to the middle of the field.

• Anthony Rieber in Newsday looks at the high rate of left-handed starting pitching the Mets have seen. Buehrle on Friday will be the 15th southpaw the Mets have faced in 32 games. The Mets -- who have a lefty-heavy lineup -- are 6-8 against southpaw starters and 12-5 against righty starters so far this season. "We've seen a stretch that usually doesn't happen," Davis told Rieber. "I think it helps. The more you see them, the more you're comfortable with them. That's it, really. The more you see them, the better chance you have of recognizing pitches and stuff."

• Mike Puma in the Post cites reasons for the Mets being five games over .500 for the first time in two years. Writes Puma:

The Mets already have 11 comeback victories in 2012 -- their highest total in franchise history after 31 games. That statistic is a testament to the bad bullpens they have faced -- see the Phillies and Diamondbacks -- and the fact their own relievers haven’t been nearly as bad as the numbers suggest. Though the Mets’ 4.42 bullpen ERA ranks 14th in the NL, that number is skewed by a brutal weekend at Colorado in which team relievers allowed 16 earned runs over two games. Overall, the Mets’ bullpen has been respectable, with Jon Rauch, Bobby Parnell and Tim Byrdak leading the charge. And they’ve been much better at home. They have a winning record in all three of their homestands this season -- something they did just three times all of last season.

• Mike Kerwick in the Record notes the improbable success is coming minus starters, from Mike Pelfrey to Jason Bay, Josh Thole and Ruben Tejada."It’s human nature to feel bad for these guys," Collins told Kerwick. "First of all, [they’re] terrific people. You hate to see them out of your lineup. They’re great teammates, both of them [Tejada and Thole]. But in our game, you’ve got to move forward. They’re not here, so you’ve got to make sure the guys that are here play in those spots, help the club win. … We can’t sit back and say, ‘We’ll just wait for those guys to come back. That doesn’t happen up here.’"

TRIVIA: Against which pitcher did Reyes have his first hit as a Marlin at Citi Field?

Thursday's answer: There have been 26 inside-the-park homers in franchise history. Two Mets have a pair -- Darryl Strawberry (off Bruce Sutter in 1984 and Jose Rijo in 1989) and Angel Pagan (off Pedro Martinez in 2009 and Livan Hernandez in 2010).

The Mets went an improbable 5-1 in the past week and won series from two teams that made the 2011 postseason. Let's review their accomplishments, with help from Baseball-Reference.com here.

Stat of the Week
Elias reports that the Mets' sweep of the Phillies was the third time in team history that the Mets won a road series of at least three games despite trailing in each of those games. The others were in July 1986 in Cincinnati and in August-September 1987 in San Diego.

Snake Charmers

The Mets won two of three games from the Diamondbacks last weekend, bouncing back from a series-opening loss to take the last two games.

By doing so, the Mets won their third homestand of the season, albeit this one a three-gamer. They won only three homestands over the entire 2011 season.

With his win Saturday, Johan Santana improved to 3-0 for his career against the Diamondbacks. He’s halfway to the most consecutive wins to start a career against the Diamondbacks. Roy Oswalt and Tim Hudson each started 6-0 in their careers against Arizona.

Santana yielded only two ground balls in the game, matching the fewest he’d allowed in any start as a Met. The only other Mets start in which he allowed only two grounders was Opening Day in 2009, when he gave up only two in a 2-1 win over the Reds.

In addition to getting the win Sunday, R.A. Dickey survived another game without striking out as a hitter. Dickey has not struck out in his first six starts in 2012.

Dickey and Dwight Gooden are the only pitchers in Mets history to have their first six appearances of the season, all as a starting pitcher, all be strikeout-free. Gooden did so in both the 1984 and 1987 seasons.

In the series finale, the Mets won in a tidy 2:16. It was the second-shortest game in the history of the Mets-Diamondbacks rivalry, surpassed only by a 5-0 Mets win June 10, 2006 (2:14).

The Mets ended this series not having homered in six straight games, far from the club record of 17 straight games without a homer.

Let’s go for a 'Spin
Elias reports that Jordany Valdespin is the first player whose first career hit was a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning or later since Miguel Cabrera of the Marlins on June 20, 2003 (versus Tampa Bay).

That earned our Mets Moment of the Week status and gave us a chance to look back at other Mets pinch-hit homer notes.

It marked the 27th time the Mets got a go-ahead pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning or later. The Mets didn’t have any from 2006 to 2010, but now have them in consecutive seasons. Scott Hairston hit one last July 8 against Giants closer Brian Wilson.


It was the first go-ahead pinch-hit home run to drive in at least three runs in the ninth inning or later since Benny Agbayani’s pinch-hit grand slam in the second game of the 2000 season in Japan, the first to drive in exactly three since a walk-off home run by Jim Tatum against the Astros in 1998.

Valdespin hit the home run against a split-fingered fastball. Only two other Mets in the past four seasons have golfed a splitter located knee-high or below for a home run. The other two were Gary Sheffield in 2009 and Daniel Murphy last season.

Lastly, Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon has now given up five go-ahead home runs in the ninth inning or later against New York teams. Two have been to Mets (Omir Santos in 2009 and Valdespin). Three were against the other New York team (whose players we won’t mention here).

Ful’Phil’ing Victories
The Mets rallied from a 4-0 deficit to beat the Phillies 7-4 on Tuesday. The 10th comeback win of the season marked the first time in team history that the Mets won 10 of their first 30 games in come-from-behind fashion.

The last time the Mets trailed AND were being shut out by four or more runs in Philadelphia and came back to win was May 15, 1999, when they rallied from a 6-0 deficit to win in Philadelphia 9-7. The Mets won that day despite Mike Piazza hitting into a triple play.

The Mets completed the sweep with a 10-6 win in Philadelphia in the series finale Wednesday. It gave them their first sweep of a series of three or more games in Philadelphia since 2006.

The Mets won all three games by at least three runs, the first time they’ve won three straight games in the same series in Philadelphia, all by three runs or more.

Be like Ike
Ike Davis shook out of a slump with a three-run home run against Jose Contreras. The homer came against a pitch that was middle of the plate, knee-high.

That’s the one spot he’s done well this season. Davis is 7-for-15 this season in at-bats that ended with a pitch located knee-high in the middle of the plate. He has a combined nine hits in all other areas of the strike zone.

The chart on the right shows Davis’ performance by strike-zone location this season.

Joshing Around
On Tuesday, Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton became the 16th player to hit four home runs in a game. There was a Mets connection to this one. The last home run came against former Mets reliever Darren O’Day.

Prior to Hamilton, the last three players with a four-homer game all went on to play for the Mets -- Mike Cameron, Shawn Green and Carlos Delgado. Two other “eventual Mets” also had a four-homer game -- Gil Hodges and Willie Mays.

There is a Mets pitching connection to each of the past four four-homer games.

Jon Rauch, then with the White Sox, allowed Cameron’s first home run while pitching for the 2002 White Sox. Green’s first of four home runs came against Glendon Rusch, who was a member of the 2002 Brewers. Future Met Jorge Sosa allowed the first two of Delgado’s home runs while pitching for the 2003 Rays.

The Mets have never had a four-homer game. They’ve had eight three-homer games. Six Mets -- Jim Hickman, Dave Kingman, Claudell Washington, Darryl Strawberry, Gary Carter and Edgardo Alfonzo -- hit three homers in a game and had at least one other plate appearance with a chance at a fourth, but failed to hit it.

Vintage Metsiemetric of the Week
The Mets won the last two games of the Diamondbacks series without recording an extra-base hit. They hadn’t won back-to-back games without recording an extra-base hit since May 1995.

The Mets have registered back-to-back wins without recording an extra-base hit eight times.

Our weekly time-machine trip takes us to the first instance -- June 10 and 11, 1968, when they beat the Dodgers, 1-0 and 3-0 in Los Angeles. The Mets combined for 16 singles in those two games, winning on the strength of shutouts from Tom Seaver and Dick Selma.

The Mets overcame a four-run deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-4, on Tuesday. It was the Mets' 10th come-from-behind win this season, matching the Atlanta Braves for the most in Major League Baseball.

On Wednesday, Dillon Gee opposes Cliff Lee with the Mets aiming for their first three-game sweep in Philly since June 13-15, 2006. David Wright homered in each game of that series.

"When you've got a young team, they're going to at times make you pull your hair out," Terry Collins said. "But, for the most part, they fight back and they play nine innings."

Wednesday's news reports:

• Josh Thole landed on the seven-day DL with a concussion, although Sandy Alderson projected the catcher will nearly certainly miss more than that time, because doctors have advised Thole to remain idle for a week or more before doing any activity whatsoever. The Mets promoted catcher Rob Johnson from Triple-A Buffalo and transferred Pedro Beato to the 60-day disabled list. Beato has been working back from a shoulder issue at the Mets' complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Alderson said Mets doctors evaluated Ruben Tejada for a concussion as well because of Sunday's tumble at Citi Field, but the shortstop was cleared. Tejada landed on the DL on Monday with a strained right quadriceps.

Ty Wigginton, who delivered the blow that nailed Thole on Monday night, told Zach Schonbrun in the Times: "I didn’t even know honestly that I made contact with him. I get to the dugout and turn around and he’s just laying there. I saw the replay and realized my shoulder got him. I didn’t realize it was anything like that.” Read more in the Star-Ledger, Post, Daily News and Newsday.

• Jenrry Mejia is due to throw 75 pitches in a start for Class A St. Lucie on Wednesday. Chris Young is scripted to go that same length Thursday for the same Florida State League club. Both pitchers underwent surgery last May 16. Mejia is returning from Tommy John surgery. Young is returning from surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his right shoulder, which is the same procedure Johan Santana underwent the previous September.

• Collins said Miguel Batista will remain in the rotation for another turn in Mike Pelfrey's former slot. Batista was charged with four runs (two earned) in 5 1/3 innings, although he needed Manny Acosta to strand two runners in scoring position in the sixth to hold the damage to that level.

• Jordany Valdespin on Wednesday should receive the baseball from his first major league hit -- Monday's tiebreaking, ninth-inning homer off Jonathan Papelbon. The ball actually was thrown back onto the field after Valdespin's long ball, but a ball girl flipped it back into the stands to a child, who departed the stadium. According to Mets PR man Jay Horwitz, the father of that child heard Tom McCarthy mention it on the Phillies TV telecast and recognized it was his son whom McCarthy was describing. The man contacted the Mets, who have made arrangements for the entire family to come to Citizens Bank Park for the series finale. Read more in Newsday.

• The tying run in the four-run seventh Tuesday scored when Wright got caught in a rundown between first and second and Kirk Nieuwenhuis eventually scampered home from third base. Collins and Wright portrayed it as a heady play by Wright to prevent Nieuwenhuis from being nailed at the plate by right fielder Hunter Pence, but that seemed like a stretch. After all, Nieuwenhuis had started the play on first base and had only just rounded second when Pence fielded the ball. No matter. It worked out for the best as second baseman Pete Orr errantly flung the ball to third base, allowing Nieuwenhuis to scamper home to draw the Mets even at 4.

Nieuwenhuis and Lucas Duda each had RBIs in the seventh and ninth innings. Both of Duda's came against left-handed relievers -- Antonio Bastardo and Joe Savery. Duda entered the game hitting .154 (4-for-26) against southpaws this season. "I kind of struggled throughout the first part of the season with lefties," Duda said. "Luckily, the ball found some space and I got a hit. Guys got on, and I swung the bat and hit the ball, and it was a base hit."

Collins said he was considering pinch hitting for Duda in the seventh before Wright's rundown allowed Nieuwenhuis to score and make it 4-4. Duda followed with the go-ahead RBI hit against Bastardo.

Said Collins about Duda: "Those were big hits. As a matter of fact, we were sitting there today. Lucas has been struggling a little bit against lefties. But the fact that he had the flu so bad -- he's really been struggling -- I'm really concerned about the fatigue factor more than anything. We were talking about the possibility of, 'Hey, look, if the bases are loaded, we might have to hit for him here.'"

• Read game recaps from Tuesday's win, which lifted the Mets to four games over .500, in the Post, Times, Star-Ledger, Newsday, Record and Daily News.

• Columnist Ken Davidoff in the Post seems like he's starting to believe. Writes Davidoff:

It’s a typical Mets con job, right? Gotta be. No, no -- not that type of con job. They beat that rap. I’m talking about the Mets’ annual first-half surge that fires up their fan base, only to lead to second-half heartbreak and apathy. Well, after witnessing the Mets outlast and outwit the Phillies last night, 7-4 at Citizens Bank Park, it should be said: If this early charge proves nothing more than a mirage, then kudos to the Mets for putting on a particularly enjoyable sell.

• Matt Harvey tossed six scoreless innings in Buffalo's 3-0 win at Gwinnett, the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Read Tuesday's full minor league recap here.

TRIVIA: For which team did Omir Santos make his major league debut?

Tuesday's answer: Warren Spahn is the oldest player to have thrown a pitch for the Mets. He was 44 years, 78 days old when he faced Houston on July 10, 1965.

WHAT IT MEANS: The Mets overcame their largest deficit of the season -- four runs -- and produced their 10^th come-from-behind victory of the season with a 7-4 win against the Phillies on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

The Mets (17-13) matched their high-water mark at four games over .500, which they also reached at 4-0, 6-2, 7-3 and 13-9.

A four-run seventh inning against Joe Blanton, Chad Qualls and Antonio Bastardo erased a 4-1 deficit.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis began that comeback with a two-out RBI single that chased Blanton.

Qualls entered with two runners on base and surrendered a single to right field by David Wright.

Andres Torres comfortably scored on the play, but Nieuwenhuis stopped at third base. That is, Nieuwenhuis stopped until Wright got into a rundown between first and second.

That’s when Phillies infielder Pete Orr intended to throw the ball to second base, but no one was covering. Orr regrouped and tried to fling a throw to third to catch Nieuwenhuis straying too far down the line. The throw missed its mark and ended up in foul territory as Nieuwenhuis trotted home to tie the score at 4.

Lucas Duda followed with a go-ahead RBI single against Bastardo.

Niewenhuis also scored in Denver from third base on a play in which Wright got caught in a rundown between first and second. That time a pickoff move by Drew Pomeranz initiated the rundown.

Nieuwenhuis and Duda added ninth-inning RBIs for a three-run cushion.

The Mets entered Tuesday night one shy of the major league lead for come-from-behind wins -- 10 by the Atlanta Braves.

TAKING THE FIFTH: Mike Pelfrey, lost for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, was more valuable than commonly understood.

After two starts by Chris Schwinden in Pelfrey’s rotation spot, 41-year-old Miguel Batista took the latest turn. Hunter Pence launched a two-run homer in the first inning against Batista and Philadelphia added a pair of unearned runs in the second inning following an error by Jordany Valdespin.

Batista’s final line: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K.

Manny Acosta stranded two runners inherited from Batista in scoring position by coaxing a weak groundout from the opposing pitcher Blanton, then striking out Jimmy Rollins to hold the Mets’ deficit to 4-1.

In three starts in Pelfrey’s absence, fill-ins have now allowed 15 runs (12 earned) on 21 hits and five walks in 13 1/3 innings. Opponents have hit five homers.

WHAT A RELIEF: For the second straight game, Tim Byrdak inherited a runner at third base with two in the eighth and recorded the out. This time, he coaxed pinch hitter Ty Wigginton into a flyout to center field.

After saves on three straight days from Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch handled the ninth and recorded his first Mets save.

SHORTCOMING: Valdespin’s first major league start at shortstop got off to a rocky start. The rookie, fresh off a heroic ninth-inning homer against Jonathan Papelbon on Monday, airmailed a throw to Ike Davis for a two-base error to open the bottom of the second inning and also could not hold a throw from catcher Mike Nickeas on a potential caught stealing of Orr during that frame.

Terry Collins said pregame Justin Turner already is scripted to start Wednesday at shortstop, with Ronny Cedeno expected back from the DL for Friday’s series opener in Miami. Cedeno is due to take over the position until Ruben Tejada’s return.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Mets will aim for their first three-game sweep in Philly since June 2006 when Cliff Lee (0-1, 1.96 ERA) returns from the disabled list to face Dillon Gee (2-2, 4.50) in Wednesday’s 7:05 p.m. series finale. A sweep would send the Phillies four games under .500 for the first time since May 9, 2007.

At Class A St. Lucie, Jenrry Mejia is due to throw 75 pitches in a rehab start Wednesday. Chris Young, who should inherit Pelfrey’s rotation spot within a month, should be on the same pitch count Thursday for St. Lucie. Both pitchers underwent surgery on May 16, 2011 -- Mejia on his right elbow, Young on his right shoulder.

Josh Thole landed on the seven-day DL with a concussion. The Mets promoted catcher Rob Johnson from Triple-A Buffalo. Pedro Beato (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day DL to clear a 40-man roster spot for Johnson.

Thole will need to be activated at the end of the seven days, or miss another seven days with a renewal on that DL. That's unlike the 15-day DL, in which a player does not necessarily miss a set 15 days -- it can be 16, 17, 18, 19, etc.

The seven-day DL for concussions was added last year. Brian Roberts, Al Alburquerque, Denard Span, Matt Treanor, Ronny Cedeno, Craig Gentry, Erick Almonte and Eli Whiteside all used it. Eric Chavez is the only other active player on the list.

Ruben Tejada, who landed on the DL with a strained right quadriceps, also was evaluated Tuesday for a concussion, but was cleared, Sandy Alderson said. Tejada went tumbling Sunday at Citi Field while suffering the injury and went face first into the ground.

Thole still had a headache on Tuesday, Terry Collins said. He was examined by Mets doctors in New York at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Collins said Thole second-guessed himself for removing his mask, but fellow catcher Mike Nickeas said he too only keeps his mask on with balls hit to the outfield. This ball was in the infield and fielded by reliever Bobby Parnell. Nickeas saw a replay on ESPN and said he found no fault with Ty Wigginton delivering a shoulder blow to Thole's head.

"That's your buddy and your teammate," Nickeas said. "You get hit like that, it's never a good thing. But it is part of the game. I think he was just trying to kind of dislodge the ball and go in there hard. Wigginton was just playing hard and unfortunately caught Josh in a vulnerable spot.

"We've all been crushed. I haven't ever been hit in the face, in the head, that it's jarred me like it looks like it got Josh. You get good ones. You get guys coming into you hard. Hopefully it just hits you in the right spot and you're able to absorb the impact. Josh kind of got clocked."

Collins already said he planned to start Johnson on Wednesday against Cliff Lee. Johnson went 2-for-2 with a double last July against Lee while with the Padres.

Righty-hitting Justin Turner also should start Wednesday against Lee. Cedeno should be back for Friday's game against Miami left-hander Mark Buehrle, and Collins suggested he did not believe Jordany Valdespin could survive the roster cut to make room for Cedeno. "Be hard for him to do that, not that he can't," Collins said.

If Valdespin is a full-time major leaguer at some point, Collins sees second base as the most likely position.

As for Jason Bay, Collins said the left fielder's fractured rib has not improved enough to allow him to begin baseball activity.

Jordany Valdespin will get the ball back from his first major league hit.

Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said Phillies and ex-Mets broadcaster Tom McCarthy played a role.

Valdespin's ball actually came back onto the field, but a ball girl flipped it to a boy in the stands, and the youngster left Citizens Bank Park. McCarthy put out an all points bulletin on Phillies TV. And the father of the young man recognized they were talking about his son's souvenir and contacted the Mets.

Horwitz said the father, Marty Wixted, will be treated to Wednesday's game with his family and also receive a bat in exchange for the baseball.