Mets gain Beltran but lose Piazza

By wire services
Published August 18, 2005

NEW YORK - The day Carlos Beltran returned to the lineup, the Mets got another bad break.

The team learned catcher Mike Piazza will miss at least a few games because of a broken bone in his left hand. The injury, a hairline fracture of the pisiform bone, happened when Piazza was hit by a foul tip during Tuesday night's 6-2 victory over the Pirates.

Piazza caught one more inning before leaving because of the pain. X-rays Wednesday revealed the injury.

"It's definitely swollen," Piazza said. "This morning I woke up and it was really a lot more swollen and just really stiff. Hopefully the swelling goes down in a few days and we'll just take it from there."

Though Piazza said he and manager Willie Randolph didn't discuss the disabled list, the Mets made a move to avoid leaving Ramon Castro as the only catcher on the roster. Catcher Mike Jacobs was recalled from Double-A Binghamton, where he was hitting .321 with 25 home runs and 92 RBIs.

The news about Piazza's injury sapped some of the excitement from Beltran's return. Six days after his frightening head-to-head outfield collision with teammate Mike Cameron, Beltran batted third as the starting centerfielder.

Tuesday, Beltran opted against surgery to repair a minimally displaced facial fracture sustained in the collision. He then worked out at the stadium and believed he was ready to return.

"We are in a very good position, still fighting to accomplish our goals," Beltran said. "I feel like right now we have the opportunity and I just want to be part of it."

OWNERS MEETING: Big-league owners hope to choose a buyer for the Washington Nationals within a month and complete the deal shortly thereafter. "We still have eight groups that are very interested in acquiring the team," Bob Dupuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said at the quarterly meeting in Pasadena, Calif. "The commissioner remains committed to getting this done in 30 days. We really would like to have the ownership in place by the end of the season."

U.S. GETS MANAGER: Former big-league manager Davey Johnson, who led the Mets to a 1986 World Series victory and was 1,148-888 during 14 seasons, was named manager of a U.S. team that will compete in the World Cup next month. Johnson, 62, will guide a team in the 18-nation tournament run by the International Baseball Federation.

CARDINALS: Busch Stadium's final season has produced record crowds. The team announced it had sold 3.45-million tickets, breaking its single-season record of 3.43-million in 1989.

CUBS: Shortstop Nomar Garciaparra left in the fifth inning against Houston with lower back stiffness.

ORIOLES: First baseman Rafael Palmeiro was scratched with a sprained right ankle a day after he had two hits in his second appearance since coming back from a 10-day steroid suspension. An X-ray was negative, and he said he expects to play Friday.

TIGERS: Shortstop Carlos Guillen went on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right knee. First baseman Carlos Pena was recalled from Triple-A Toledo to fill the roster spot.

[Last modified August 18, 2005, 01:05:19]