MIAMI — Ike Davis might want to get his earplugs ready for tonight’s game at Citi Field.
The beleaguered first baseman drew two walks yesterday, but left five runners stranded over his first two at-bats, contributing to the Mets’ 3-0 loss to the Marlins.
Davis struck out with two runners on base to end the first inning and popped out with the bases loaded to end the third against Tom Koehler.
“Both of them are frustrating because you want to get a big hit and I got a pitch to do it with and I just was late on it,” Davis said. “He made some good pitches and I couldn’t sit on his fastball because his curveball is good. I just happened to be a little tardy on the fastballs.”
Davis was 5-for-22 (.227) on the road trip and drew eight walks in the seven games in which he appeared.
“I’m playing better, but there is obviously room for improvement,” said Davis, who spent nearly a month at Triple-A Las Vegas before returning to the Mets on July 5. “I’ve just got to try to stay patient, because when I start trying to do too much is when I have bad games. Take my walks and hopefully I don’t miss the pitches when I get them.”
Manager Terry Collins liked the patience Davis showed at the plate.
“But the other two at-bats he had some pitches to hit and fouled them off,” Collins said.
* Bobby Parnell was unavailable to pitch because of a stiff neck, according to Collins, and may not be ready for tonight’s game. But Parnell downplayed the matter and said he expects to be available. The right-hander blamed the stiffness on “pillows.”
* David Wright was in the lineup, as expected, after receiving treatment for what Collins called a cramp in his right hamstring area. But because his leg started bothering Wright last weekend in Washington, the Mets will continue to monitor the situation.
“He understands himself better than anybody,” Collins said. “I have to trust his opinion of what he says. And he says he’s ready to go.”
* Justin Turner started at second base to give Daniel Murphy a rest and finished 2-for-4 with a double. Against the Marlins this season, Turner is 8-for-21 (.381) with four doubles and an RBI.
* Jon Niese pitched four scoreless innings in a rehab outing for Single-A St. Lucie against Tampa. The lefty, who is returning from a partially torn rotator cuff, is expected to make one more rehab start before rejoining the Mets.