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 Friday, October 8
Ailing Piazza not in Mets' lineup today
 
Associated Press

 NEW YORK -- In a startling shakeup for the New York Mets, All-Star catcher Mike Piazza was out of the starting lineup for Game 3 of the NL division series against Arizona on Friday night because of an injured left thumb.

Todd Pratt was to take the place of Piazza. The best-of-5 series was tied at one each going into the Mets' first home playoff game since 1988.

<Mike Piazza
Piazza

Piazza missed a game Sept. 18, a day after being hit by a foul tip off the bat of Philadelphia's Ron Gant on his glove hand. Piazza may have hurt himself again Wednesday night in Game 2 against the Diamondbacks on a tag play at the plate.

Pratt said he talked with Piazza on the trip back to New York.

"I knew he was hurting," the reserve catcher said. "He told me it was sore. I knew there was a chance I would be playing. I know it's not feeling right or he'd be in there."

Pratt said he was excited by the chance to start but was trying to keep things in perspective.

"I come to the park every day knowing there's a chance I might play," he said. "For me, it's another game, a chance to give Mike another day's rest. That's what I think of it as."

Piazza hit .303 with 40 home runs and 124 RBI this season. He played the first two playoff games against Arizona, hitting two singles in nine at-bats.

During Thursday's off-day, Piazza went for X-rays, which were negative. But his thumb did not appear any better when he arrived at Shea Stadium on Friday afternoon.

"He came in today and showed us a rather ugly looking situation," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. "It was swollen and he couldn't bend it.

"I think it's been a continuation kind of thing," Valentine said.

About three hours before the game was to start, Valentine said Piazza would try to take batting practice. Valentine still held out slight hope Piazza might be able to play, but did not sound encouraged.

"I think it would hamper his hitting and the catching could aggravate it," he said.

Benny Agbayani was listed as the cleanup hitter in Piazza's place against Arizona's Omar Daal. Pratt was to bat seventh.

"Obviously, you can't replace Mike Piazza in the lineup," Mets pitcher Al Leiter said. "Hopefully, he'll be ready tomorrow."

Pratt hit .293 with three home runs and 21 RBI in 140 at-bats this season.

 


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Mets vs. Diamondbacks series page

Game Day Preview: Diamondbacks at Mets