MLB

Mets’ Isringhausen suffers back injury

MIAMI — Jason Isringhausen’s chances of joining the Mets anytime soon have suffered at least a minor setback.

The team announced yesterday that Isringhausen’s appearance in an extended spring training game on Saturday was cut short. Isringhausen was slated to pitch two innings in the game and was shut down after one inning with back stiffness.

General manager Sandy Alderson said he expects to have a further update on Isringhausen today. The 38-year-old right-hander agreed to attend extended spring training for two weeks after the Mets squeezed him from the Opening Day roster. The Mets are willing to let Isringhausen escape his minor league contract if another team has interest in him.

Isringhausen appeared close to making the team in spring training before an inflamed right elbow sidelined him for a week. The Mets are wary of Isringhausen’s health because has had Tommy John surgery three times.

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Alderson said Jason Bay (ribcage) still cannot swing a bat, and that may preclude the left fielder from hitting his target of a Saturday return from the disabled list.

“I don’t know how much time we’re going to need from the point he starts activities to actually be done,” Alderson said. “The nice thing is he’ll be eligible on [April 9] and if it’s not the ninth, it shouldn’t be that long, based on what the doctors felt at the outset.”

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Manager Terry Collins wanted to give fifth starter Chris Capuano two innings in a relief assignment yesterday, but that plan changed after the lefty surrendered three hits and a walk in the seventh. Capuano lasted only two-thirds of an inning, and Collins used D.J. Carrasco, Tim Byrdak and Taylor Buchholz to get the final seven outs.

Capuano, who will be skipped the first time through the rotation, is slated to start against the Nationals on Sunday at Citi Field. It’s possible he could see a relief stint in Philadelphia tomorrow, if needed.

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Collins gave Brad Emaus the day off, and Daniel Murphy‘s first major league start at second base was a success. Murphy went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, and had four assists and one putout in six innings in the field. . . . The Mets did not miss Carlos Beltran‘s bat. Beltran rested (Lucas Duda started in right field), giving him two straight days off heading into Philadelphia.