Mired in an 0-for-13 slump, Ruben Tejada found himself on the bench in the Mets’ 6-0 loss Tuesday, but manager Terry Collins said the shortstop job wasn’t up for grabs.
When asked what Flores could do to get a chance to play every day, Collins said: “It all depends on where you’re going to play him.”
And shortstop isn’t an option, despite Tejada’s struggles.
“The other kid is playing pretty good lately,” Collins said of Tejada, who entered Tuesday with just two hits in his previous 29 plate appearances, with three walks. He also had been hit three times.
Flores went 1-for-3.
Collins pointed out the Mets’ recent improved play with Tejada on the field over making a switch to Flores.
“Two years ago, Ike Davis wasn’t hitting and we were winning games, so you pick and choose your spots,” Collins said, perhaps in an unfortunate comparison to the now exiled first baseman. “Wilmer came up because Ruben got beaned, so we were concerned about having a backup. There were no instructions to play him.”
But until Tejada proves he can produce consistently — or the Mets add another shortstop — the questions about the position figure to linger.
Bobby Abreu grounded out in the ninth and has just six hits in 49 at-bats since June 13.
He’s also 2-for-30 as a pinch hitter, not quite what the Mets had in mind when they signed him to be an experienced left-handed bat off the bench.
“It’s been tough,” Abreu said. “I’m trying to make adjustments. Today, I hit the ball pretty good.”
Not good enough for a hit, though.
“That’s why Bobby’s here,” Collins said. “I thought that at-bat was a good as he’s had in a while. He got the bat out in front. We’ve got to somehow get him going.”
As expected, Lucas Duda was held out of the starting lineup against Philadelphia left-hander Cole Hamels, replaced at first base by Eric Campbell, who went 2-for-4.
“You’ve got to pick your spots,” Collins said of giving Duda the day off against the pitcher who had held him to one hit in 18 plate appearances.
“You pick certain guys,” Collins said. “This isn’t one of the guys [Duda hits well.]And somehow we’ve got to get Eric Campbell some at-bats.”
Daniel Murphy’s streak of four-straight multi-hit games came to a screeching halt, as he went 0-for-4. He entered the game having gone 14-for-41 in 10 games. … Dana Eveland, drilled in his left elbow by a line drive in the ninth inning of Monday’s win, said he felt better than expected.
After a rough start to 2014 at Citi Field, Zack Wheeler has pitched well and earned victories in each of his last two outings at home, surrendering just a pair of earned runs over 13 innings.