PHILADELPHIA — About the only certainty regarding the Mets’ leadoff spot is when Jordany Valdespin starts, he will bat first.
Otherwise, manager Terry Collins is still experimenting in search of stability atop the order. Last night, Valdespin made his second start this season as the leadoff hitter and went 3-for-5 in the Mets’ 7-3 loss to the Phillies. The three hits were a career high for Valdespin.
“When Jordany plays he’s going to lead off,” Collins said. “Because he is a different kind of player, maybe he really ignites you early by hitting a double or hitting one over the fence in the first inning.
“He’s got that capability, and he’s got capability if he gets on of stealing second and creating some runs. We discuss it every day and thought against [Kyle] Kendrick it would be a good guy to start.”
* Shaun Marcum threw a bullpen session yesterday in Port St. Lucie for his first mound activity in more than three weeks. Marcum is recovering from nerve inflammation in his neck.
* Collins said he has been considering who he will use in the desinated hitter role for the next three games at Minnesota, but yesterday wasn’t ready to divulge his plan.
* David Wright extended his errorless streak at third base to 64 games. The major league record is 99 games, shared by John Wehner (1999-2000 with Pittsburgh and Florida) and Jeff Cirillo (2001-02 with Colorado and Seattle).
Vinny Castilla set a major league record with 272 chances without an error at third base without an error for Washington in 2005. In his current streak, Wright has 153 total chances.
* With last night’s loss, the Mets missed on their attempt to win a fourth straight series in Philadelphia, dating to last season. … The Mets have at least one homer in each of their nine games this season. Overall, they have hit 13 homers.