NEW YORK — Jonathon Niese became the Mets’ latest injury victim Wednesday, his season ending in frightening fashion when he tore his right hamstring while covering first base against the Cardinals and then collapsed during a practice pitch.
The rookie was hurt in the second inning when Joe Thur- ston hit a one-out grounder to Daniel Murphy with runners at the corners. The first baseman threw to shortstop Angel Berroa, who made a return throw to first. Niese stretched and wound up doing the splits as Thurston beat the throw.
When Niese tried to throw a warm-up pitch from the stretch, he grimaced at the end of his follow-through, fell and held the back of his right leg. He needed assistance to leave the field.
“An MRI this afternoon revealed a complete tear of the right upper hamstring tendon from the bone,” the Mets said in a statement. “Niese is out for the remainder of the season and is expected to be ready for spring training.”
On another day when MRI was in the team’s vocabulary as much as RBI, shortstop Jose Reyes was re-examined. While the Mets were not specific, it appears his chance to play again this season is dwindling. Reyes has not been in a game since May 20.
“The MRI showed significant scar tissue and inflammation behind the right knee, related to the hamstring tendon injury, which has caused continued pain,” the Mets said.
Dice-K expects to return
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka is scheduled for his first bullpen session Tuesday since going on the disabled list June 21 with a strain in his pitching shoulder.
He played long toss and threw at 60 feet on flat ground Wednesday, and said his goal, “of course,” is to rejoin the team before the season ends.
Boston left fielder Jason Bay re-injured his right hamstring and expects to miss at least the first two games of Boston’s series against the Yankees.
Footnotes.
The Nationals placed outfielder Austin Kearns (thumb) on the 15-day disabled list and called up outfielder Jorge Padilla from Triple-A Syracuse.
• The Cubs activated infielder Aaron Miles (elbow) and optioned reliever Jeff Stevens to Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs also granted an unconditional release to left-handers Jason Waddell and B.J. Ryan.
• Seattle pitcher Erik Bedard has experienced soreness in his shoulder after Tuesday’s bullpen session and will undergo another MRI exam.
• The Yankees recalled right-hander Anthony Claggett from Triple-A Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre and designated infielder Cody Ransom for assignment.
The Associated Press
