MLB

Ike quiet on talk with Mets manager

PITTSBURGH — Ike Davis wasn’t about to get specific yesterday about his meeting with manager Terry Collins the previous day.

The struggling Mets first baseman was succinct when asked what was discussed.

“The same [bleep] I’ve been talking about for days,” Davis said before the Mets beat the Pirates 3-2 last night at PNC Park.

BOX SCORE

Davis returned to the starting lineup after getting benched against Pirates lefty Erik Bedard and finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, dropping his average to .156. That includes only two hits in his last 32 at-bats.

But Collins isn’t thinking in terms of batting average with Davis.

“Sunday we saw a guy actually go up there in Toronto and try to hit the ball to left field, and he hit two balls on the button,” Collins said.

“I told him [Monday] that was great, but if you think for one second we want you to become a singles hitter, you’re sadly mistaken.

“That is defeating the entire purpose of what his value is to this team, so now are we asking him to do something that’s going to keep him from being successful [with batting average]? That is the fine line we walk at times.”

* According to a team official, the Mets have no interest in Staten Island native Jason Marquis, who was designated for assignment by the Twins.

“We’ve been down that road a couple of times,” the official said, referring to discussions in recent years about signing the veteran right-hander, who had wanted a return to his New York roots.

Marquis was 2-4 with an 8.47 ERA in seven starts for the Twins this season.

* David Wright had a rare hitless game, finishing 0-for-4, and watched his average dip to .403. Wright has been above .400 since May 12.

* Tim Byrdak began last night’s action as the major league leader with 20 inherited runners stranded. He then entered in the eighth against the Pirates, behind Jon Rauch, and stranded another.

* Ruben Tejada [quadriceps] had four hits in an extended spring game yesterday. The Mets are hopeful the shortstop will return from the disabled list by the weekend.