Mets In-Game Notes

According to Adam Rubin, Gary Sheffield’s debut as a starting right fielder for the Mets will wait until Wednesday against the Padres, Jerry Manuel announced. Manuel said he would have thrown Sheffield into right field Sunday against the Marlins, even if Sheffield wasn’t quite ready, but the manager wanted to have his primary lineup on the field that day with ace Johan Santana on the mound.

Carlos Beltran just hit his first homer of the year of Sanchez to pull within a run, Marlins up 2-1. Sheffield came up to pinch hit and was intentionally walked to face Jose Reyes who popped up with two men on to end the inning. The Marlins got their runs on homeruns by Hanley Ramirez and who else, Dan Uggla. Maine was solid otherwise. Sean Green is now pitching in the sixth.

By this time tomorrow night, either Marlon Anderson, Darren O’Day or Bobby Parnell will be off the 25 man roster. No official announcement as of yet, but it looks to be Anderson.

The Marlins announced that the first pitch of Saturday’s game is now 6:25 p.m. — pushed back from 6:10 p.m. — so that leaves only 40 minutes of blacked-out coverage due to FOX’s exclusivity rights.

Check back after the game for a complete recap.