PHILADELPHIA — Get a big hit for the Mets, and keep on playing.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis was a beneficiary of that approach last night by manager Terry Collins, getting the start in center field against the Phillies a day after his pinch-hit single helped sink the Marlins.
Collins cited the fact Nieuwenhuis had one hit in three career at-bats against Phillies starting pitcher Roy Halladay as another factor.
Collin Cowgill, Jordany Valdespin and Nieuwenhuis all have started games in center field this season.
Nieuwenhuis’ single in the ninth inning against Steve Cishek on Sunday set the stage for Marlon Byrd’s two-run single to win it. In last night’s 7-2 win, he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before Cowgill pinch hit for him in the sixth inning .
“I don’t want anybody to think we have this solid lineup, because we’ve got some guys where the past means something,” Collins said. “Kirk Niuewenhuis last year for 12 weeks played pretty stinking good.
“If we can get him back, get his swing back to where he was last year in the first half, we’ve got a good player, because this guy can really play center field. We’ll try to do it in the right situations and put him in some spots where the guy he’s facing he has a chance of doing some damage against him.”
* The Mets are wary of scouting reports they received on Aaron Harang, according to a club source, and likely won’t pursue the veteran right-hander. Harang was designated for assignment by the Rockies after arriving Saturday in a trade with the Dodgers.
Collins gave a lukewarm endorsement yesterday to lefty Aaron Laffey, who allowed three earned runs on 10 hits over 4 1/3 innings against the Marlins starting in Shaun Marcum’s place. Marcum remains on the disabled list with neck inflammation.
“[Laffey] is going to be the guy until we figure out when Shaun is going to be back or if he’s going to be back or where we stand,” Collins said. “There is no number in mind of how many starts. It could be three, it could be seven, I don’t know.”
* Frank Francisco could begin pitching minor league games within the next few days, according to Collins. Francisco did not appear a game in spring training while rehabbing his right elbow…. Scott Atchison was unavailable in the bullpen last night after pitching three straight days for the Mets. The veteran righty appeared in five of the Mets’ first six games, allowing an earned run on Saturday against Miami…. The Mets entered last night with at least one homer in each of their first six games. The Rockies were the only other team in the major leagues with a homer in their first six games.