MLB

Pelfrey KO’d by liner in Mets’ loss to Diamondbacks

PHOENIX — Mike Pelfrey’s foot hadn’t even left his mouth last night when a new body part became an issue.

Gerardo Parra’s line drive struck Pelfrey’s right elbow in the fifth inning, forcing the Mets right-hander to leave early in his team’s 6-4 loss to the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. It was just the latest chapter in Pelfrey’s weekend — and season — to forget. Pelfrey suffered a contusion to the elbow, and X-rays were negative. He said he intends to make his next start.

A day earlier, Pelfrey told The Post it was not realistic to believe at the beginning of the season the Mets had a shot this year — words that left the team to deal with the fallout yesterday. Terry Collins and Pelfrey met before the game in the manager’s office to clear the air.

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“It’s unrealistic for anybody at the end of last year to come in and say, ‘The Mets, this is a one-year thing, next year we’re going to win it all,’ ” Pelfrey said Friday. “It’s unrealistic.”

After last night’s game, Pelfrey said the comment was meant to be a positive.

“I thought in spring training we could make the playoffs,” Pelfrey said. “I thought after losing [83] games, we weren’t going to win the World Series — that might be a little unrealistic — but we have the talent. I thought it was a positive. I guess it didn’t come out that way.”

Pelfrey later told The Post he was displeased a “borderline” comment he had made became a focal point. Collins said he was satisfied with the explanation he received from Pelfrey, and the issue is dead.

“[Pelfrey] did not, under any circumstance, intend for it to come out negatively,” Collins said. “He wanted to clear the air, immediately. He didn’t want it to linger, so he came in and talked about it and still got ready to pitch and still had as good of stuff as he had in a long time.”

David Wright called Pelfrey’s comment a non-issue.

“This isn’t a big deal,” Wright said. “We know what kind of guy he is and what kind of teammate he is. I speak for the entire clubhouse when I say we have his back and he’s a guy you want to take the ball every fifth day, because the guy takes a line drive off his pitching elbow and wants to stay in the game. That’s the kind of guy you want out there pitching.”

Pelfrey’s plea to remain in the game went unheeded after Parro’s shot struck his elbow. Trainer Ray Ramirez did not even allow Pelfrey a warmup pitch to test the elbow. Pelfrey said the injury is not serious and he won’t miss a start.

“The frustrating part is I thought I had good stuff tonight for the first time in six or seven starts and it [stinks] that it ended like that,” Pelfrey said.

Collins indicated leaving Pelfrey, who is 6-9 with a 4.53 ERA this season, in the game was not worth the risk.

“You just can’t jeopardize this guy’s career to see if he can throw warmup pitches,” Collins said. “The swelling was immediate, right on the elbow. Mike being Mike, he wanted to stay in. We just couldn’t do it.”

After Pelfrey exited, D.J. Carrasco entered and drilled Willie Bloomquist before surrendering a three-run homer to Ryan Roberts. Pelfrey’s final line included three runs allowed (two earned) over four-plus innings.

The Mets took a 4-2 lead against Daniel Hudson in the fourth on Pelfrey’s RBI single, but went silent afterward, mustering just three hits in the final five innings. Ruben Tejada’s two-run double in the second had tied the game at 2-2.

mpuma@nypost.com