PHILADELPHIA — Jason Bay’s ring finger has replaced David Wright’s pinkie in the Mets’ escalating game of musical sore digits.
A day after Wright returned to the lineup, despite his broken right pinkie, Bay was scratched with a jammed right ring finger. Bay said he sustained the injury Saturday when he dived back into first base after getting caught in a rundown.
“The jammed finger epidemic that is going around,” Bay said yesterday before the Mets’ 8-2 loss to the Phillies.
Bay said X-rays taken on the finger Saturday were negative, but he woke up yesterday with bruising and swelling, preventing him from gripping a bat.
METS PEN SQUANDERS SWEEP IN PHILLY
Lucas Duda was originally scheduled to have the day off, but was pressed into service with Bay out. Scott Hairston played left field, with Kirk Nieuwenhuis in center.
“I’m hoping that [with] one day I can get the swelling out and be fine,” Bay said.
Manager Terry Collins said Bay will be evaluated before tonight’s game in Atlanta. If Bay can’t go, it’s possible Mike Baxter would get a start in left field against Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson.
* Mike Pelfrey joked that nobody benefited more than him from wearing No. 42 as part of MLB’s tribute to Jackie Robinson. In the past, Pelfrey has been abused, especially by Mets fans, while warming in the bullpen at Citizens Bank Park. That wasn’t the case yesterday, as Pelfrey heard supportive fans telling him to beat the Phillies.
“I looked at my jersey and thought maybe because it didn’t say ‘34’ they didn’t know who I am,” Pelfrey said. “The ‘42’ threw them off.”
* Wright finished 2-for-4 with two singles and has hit safely in all six of his games this season. Wright is 12-for-19 (.632) for the season with two homers and five RBIs. … Ike Davis’ two-run home run against Cole Hamels in the first inning was his first since May 6 of last year against the Dodgers. Before the game Collins said the fact Davis missed the final 4 1/2 months last season might be contributing to his slow start. But Davis, who is batting .125, blames only himself.
“I don’t want to blame it on anything besides myself,” Davis said. “I haven’t played well and I need to play better.”