Mike Pelfrey packed his bags yesterday morning without knowing whether he would be getting on a plane bound for San Diego with the Mets or to New Orleans to join the Triple-A Zephyrs.
After the 5-2 victory over the Reds, Pelfrey found out it would be the latter. The Mets optioned the right-handed pitcher to New Orleans to make room for Jorge Sosa, who is coming off the disabled list tonight to start against the Padres.
“I understand,” Pelfrey said. “Sosa has thrown the ball well and he deserves to get the ball.”
The Mets toyed with the idea of keeping Pelfrey in the bullpen, but decided to send him back to the minors where he could start. Pelfrey is 0-7 with a 6.12 ERA in two stints with the Mets this season.
“This time around I felt like I was better,” Pelfrey said. “I still didn’t have the best results but I thought I threw the ball better.”
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Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez got a scare Saturday night when he was leaving Shea Stadium. Someone threw what is believed to be a rock through his rear windshield, shattering it.
Security caught the person who threw it. Robert Kasdon, Mets vice president of security, said the thrower was a minor, though, so no charges would be pressed.
Hernandez declined to comment yesterday and Kasdon said he thought it was just a freak occurrence. There are no indications the teenager knew who the driver of the car was.
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Oliver Perez‘s teammates had some fun with him yesterday after he gave up a giant home run to the Reds’ Adam Dunn. The shot went an estimated 460 feet, knocking out lights on the out-of-town scoreboard in right field.
“Wow, that was a long ball,” Carlos Beltran said. “If I’m a pitcher, I want to give up a home run like that.”
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Moises Alou probably will play a rehab game for the Gulf Coast League Mets today. Mets general manager Omar Minaya said the club wants to see how Alou feels this morning but expect he’ll play. . . . Minaya said Pedro Martinez will be back in Florida this week and should throw a bullpen session. . . . Jose Reyes was caught stealing yesterday for the second consecutive day. It’s the first time Reyes has been thrown out twice in a series since Sept. 8-11, 2005 against St. Louis. . . . Actors Kevin James and Adam Sandler were at the game promoting their new movie, “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.”