VIERA, Fla. — Jason Bay was somewhat thrilled to leave Space Coast Stadium yesterday with just a bruise to his right forearm.
It certainly looked much worse as the Mets left fielder clutched his arm in agony after getting drilled with a Stephen Strasburg heater in the third inning of a 12-0 exhibition loss to the Nationals.
“Hopefully it’s disaster avoided and it’s just a forearm bruise and we’ll be alright,” said Bay, who initially remained in the game but was removed at the conclusion of the half-inning.
Bay will have a day off today and be evaluated before tomorrow’s game against the Braves.
Bay is glad to put this ballpark in the rearview mirror: Last year he felt tightness in his rib cage during batting practice here and missed the first three weeks of the regular season.
* A day after saying Andres Torres (calf) might not be ready for the season opener, Terry Collins was more optimistic about his starting center fielder’s chances.
“He was a lot better,” Collins said. “There is a possibility he may be coming faster than we think.”
Collins indicated Torres could begin running in the next 2-3 days. If Torres returns to the lineup, it will make roster decisions much easier for the Mets, who do not have a true backup center fielder with Scott Hairston (oblique) questionable for the opener.
* David Wright took batting practice yesterday and could be cleared for today’s game against the Cardinals in Jupiter. It would be the Grapefruit League debut for Wright, who has spent three weeks recovering from tightness in his left rib cage.
* Bobby Parnell pitched a scoreless inning and appears to have locked up a bullpen job. The righty fireballer has not allowed an earned run this spring. It comes as D.J. Carrasco (ankle) and Pedro Beato (shoulder) have been sidelined and are doubtful for Opening Day.
Lefty reliever Garrett Olson was hit on his pitching hand by a batted ball in a minor league exhibition game. X-rays were negative, but Olson has a contusion. He has been a contender to claim the vacant lefty specialist role until Tim Byrdak returns from arthroscopic knee surgery.
* Dillon Gee pitched six shutout innings in a game against Marlins minor leaguers in Port St. Lucie. … The Mets are hoping to get 90 pitches today from Johan Santana in his start against the Cardinals. The lefty threw 69 pitches in his previous start.