SEATTLE — Ruben Tejada’s helmet had a baseball imprint, but the Mets shortstop may avoid a disabled list stint after getting beaned in Wednesday’s fifth inning.
“I took a couple of tests in the trainer’s room and everything is positive and good,” Tejada said after the Mets beat the Mariners 3-2. “It scared me — a high fastball. I saw the ball and tried to protect, which is the only thing I could do in that moment.”
The 94-mph heater from Taijuan Walker knocked off Tejada’s helmet, and Tejada briefly lay motionless before walking off the field. Tejada was replaced at shortstop by utilityman Eric Campbell, who has limited experience at the position.
Tejada, according to manager Terry Collins, was cleared by a doctor to fly with the team to Milwaukee.
“Everything right now looks OK,” Collins said. “He has no symptoms of what they were looking for, but sometimes these things pop up a little later, some dizziness or something.”
Collins said he may give Campbell a start at shortstop Thursday just to give Tejada an extra day to rest.
Curtis Granderson missed a second straight game with flu-like symptoms. Chris Young, who returned to the lineup after leaving Monday’s game with a left calf cramp, started in Granderson’s spot in right field. Collins indicated he’s unsure if Granderson will be ready for Thursday’s game in Milwaukee.
Collins was pleased the Mets held Robinson Cano to 3-for-12 (.250) over the three-game series. Cano’s single with two outs in the seventh inning ended Bartolo Colon’s perfect game bid.
“[Cano] is one of the best players in the game and swinging the bat great,” Collins said. “He hits us pretty good. Especially with the Yankees, he used to dominate us. So to keep him in check and not do a lot of damage was big for us to get through this series.”
Colon’s victory was the 20th of his career against the Mariners. Only Roger Clemens (23) has more career victories against the Mariners.