MLB

Wheeler’s walk totals bother Mets manager

Prized Mets pitching prospect Zack Wheeler, who had to deal with a blister earlier in the season, had another rough outing Friday night for Triple-A Las Vegas. He allowed just three hits against Sacramento, but coughed up four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings due to six walks. His ERA rose to 4.91, with the walks raising a red flag.

“When you’re pitching in Las Vegas, due to the ballpark, sometimes you overthrow just because you don’t want to get hit,” manager Terry Collins said before the Mets’ 7-6 loss to the Nationals Saturday at Citi Field. “Sometimes guys in those parks pitch away from contact because contact means danger in those little parks. The ball flies. Zack’s history is he doesn’t walk a lot of guys, so when I saw the six bases on balls there’s got to be a reason for it.

“He’s got good enough stuff. If he pounds the zone, he’ll get people out. … That’s a red flag. I don’t want to see walks from those guys. I told Zack in the spring, ‘You’re going to pitch in a tough place.’ I was in that league for 12 years. I know how hard [it] is to pitch in, but good pitchers [have done well] because they threw strikes. I’d rather see 10 hits — that I can understand. But six walks, he’s better than that.’’

* Ruben Tejada — out of the lineup after rolling his right ankle Friday — came on as a pinch-hitter and drew a two-out walk to load the bases in the fourth. Justin Turner, who started at shortstop, followed with a two-RBI single for a 4-3 lead in the Mets’ eventual loss.

“Yeah, it’s perfect. I feel good, but Terry made the decision,” Tejada said. “The decision is not mine. If he needs me, I’m ready to play.’’

Tejada had Chad Tracy slide over his ankle at second base while he reached back for Daniel Murphy’s errant double-play relay.

“[He got me] right on top, but it’s nothing,’’ Tejada said.

Collins said it was precautionary.

“I saw the replay when the game was over — he’s lucky he didn’t break his ankle,’’ the manager said. “I just thought he’d be pretty stiff, and wanted to get Turner a game anyway, so decided to give him 24 extra hours to get some treatment to make sure he’s ready for the next couple weeks.’’

* Matt Harvey is the first pitcher in the modern era to win his first four starts while allowing no more than 10 hits combined, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He’s 4-0 with a 0.93 ERA. Other starters are 6-6 with a 5.95 ERA.

* Jeremy Hefner has allowed an NL-high seven home runs, six in his past eight innings.

* John Buck’s game-tying RBI double in the seventh inning gave him 21 for the season. … The Mets were held without a home run at Citi Field for the first time this year.

* The Nationals placed star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (strained left hamstring )on the 15-day disabled list and promoted prize prospect Anthony Rendon from Double-A for his big league debut.

Zimmerman did not play in the first two games of the series. Manager Davey Johnson said he likely will start Rendon, a first-round draft pick in 2011, in Zimmerman’s place.