PHILADELPHIA — The Mets got all shook up last night, and then came the aftershock: Jon Niese and Scott Hairston likely are headed to the disabled list.
“Just another day in paradise,” manager Terry Collins said after the Mets’ 9-4 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Niese strained a muscle near his right ribcage swinging the bat last week in San Diego, and said he aggravated the injury last night on a third-inning strikeout of Hunter Pence. The Mets, who have a doubleheader scheduled against the Marlins on Monday and already needed an additional pitcher, are in no position to gamble. Niese will be placed on the DL, and a second pitcher called up from the minors.
Among the options for the two spots are lefty Pat Misch and righty Chris Schwinden, who would be making his major league debut. The Mets could also summon 40-year-old Miguel Batista.
Niese remained in the game after aggravating the injury, and later said he made the wrong decision.
“After [Pence’s] at-bat I should have said something,” Niese said. “I tried to tough it out, and unfortunately the pain was lingering there.
“I don’t know if I damaged it more. I doubt it. But it’s one of those things, I can’t pitch with it. When you are in the heat of battle, I was just a little hard-headed, I guess.”
Hairston sustained a ribcage injury during a pinch-hitting appearance in the seventh inning, and was awaiting X-ray results last night. He expects to undergo an MRI exam today.
“It’s one of those things where you’ve been taking swings for 6-7 months and you pray stuff like that doesn’t happen,” Hairston said. “I rotated in the wrong position and just strained a muscle.”
The Mets (60-68) suffered their 11th defeat in 13 games and are eight games below .500 for the first time since their 5-13 start. This could be just the tip of the iceberg: The Mets have another game against the Phillies today before the Braves visit Citi Field for three games.
“I’m not going to let [us] get down,” Collins said. “I’m not going to let that happen. My teams do not get down.”
Niese lasted only four-plus innings, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits. It left Niese (11-11) with a third straight loss, and his record fell to 2-3 against the Phillies this season.
Before the game, pitching coach Dan Warthen said he was happy with the progress the 24-year-old Niese has made this year.
“To me, he has the best overall stuff on the staff,” Warthen said. “As far as four quality pitches, he has it.”
But with the injury as a contributing factor, that wasn’t evident last night.
Niese surrendered a three-run homer to John Mayberry Jr. in the third after Shane Victorino had homered leading off the inning. After allowing a run in the fourth, Niese’s night completely unraveled an inning later, when the lefty loaded the bases with nobody out. Niese was yanked for Pedro Beato, but all three runs eventually scored.
mpuma@nypost.com