MET NOTES
Bobby Valentine cautiously gave a thumbs-up assessment on Armando Benitez’ finger problem yesterday.
Valentine said he hopes to have his closer available later today for the start of a three-game series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Benitez was unavailable the last two games because of a cut on his right index finger, suffered when he accidentally shut the clubhouse door on it while leaving Shea Stadium Friday night.
Benitez threw lightly yesterday and Valentine deemed him OK for the L.A. series.
“It looks a lot better [than it did Saturday],” Valentine said before yesterday’s game against the Rockies. “The black and blue is out of the fingernail and the slice closed up. Conservatively, it’ll be another day.”
That day was yesterday, meaning Benitez will be ready if needed tonight.
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Edgardo Alfonzo made two standout defensive plays in the first three innings for the Mets – both times robbing Colorado leadoff hitter Juan Pierre of potential hits.
In the first inning, Alfonzo fielded Pierre’s first-pitch leadoff bunt with his bare hand and threw him out. In the third, Alfonzo stabbed a hard grounder and again threw Pierre out, possibly saving a run with Gary Bennett on second base.
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There was still a buzz in the Mets’ clubhouse yesterday about Joe McEwing’s losing-streak-busting home run on Saturday. McEwing said he “felt the energy” lift in the Mets’ dugout after he hit the homer, adding, “It was very emotional.”
Valentine said, “We hadn’t had much to cheer about for awhile.”
As taxing as the Mets’ six-game skid was, McEwing was asked if he could imagine enduring a 15-game losing streak like the Tampa Bay Devil Rays recently were mired in. “That’s a lot of gray hairs,” McEwing said.
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Though rain delayed yesterday’s game for a little more than an hour, the Mets again averted a rainout. The last time they were rained out at home was July 26, 2000. “We play at Shea,” Valentine joked.
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LHP Shawn Estes (1-4, 4.71) will start for the Mets against the Dodgers’ LHP Odalis Perez (4-1, 1.66) in tonight’s 10:10 p.m. game. RHP Pedro Astacio (5-2, 2.94) and RHP Jeff D’Amico (2-3, 4.03) will also pitch for the Mets in the series.