The New York Mets shutout the Cardinals 9-0, but in the process, lost top pitching prospect Jonathon Niese for the season. Niese was covering first base on a play in the second inning, and did a split trying to make a catch, and came up hurt. The 22 year-old southpaw then threw a practice pitch and collapsed while grimacing in pain. He had to be helped to the dugout, where it was found out that he tore his right hamstring and will be out until next spring.

Niese entered the Mets rotation two weeks ago after he had been pitching very well in AAA and Fernando Nieve went on the DL. Niese seemed to have really found his game recently while in Buffalo, and I was looking forward to him developing it through the remainder of the season in Flushing. Unfortunately, it looks like Niese will have to put that on hold until next season, which he will most likely start with the Bisons.

Mets Notes:
-Nelson Figueroa, coming off of a rocking on Monday, relieved Niese and provided the Amazings with 4.1 innings of scoreless baseball, while striking out 5. Figgy also added a 2 RBI triple and got the win.

-Bobby Parnell then took the ball from the Brooklyn native, striking out three in a scoreless three innings to get his first save.

-It is really up in the air on who will replace Niese in the rotation next go around. Figueroa and Tim Redding have had their ups and downs this year, but both seem to be more effective in long relief than starting. Parnell, a starter in the minor leagues before being converted into a relief pitcher last September, may be given a shot in the rotation. His velocity is higher as a reliever, and pitching coach Dan Warthen has stated that he envisions Parnell as a future closer and not starter, but the Mets do not have many options. There is really no one in Buffalo (a team I follow very much) who can start at the major league level at this point.

-Angel Pagan was the offensive star of the Mets victory. The center fielder went 3-4 with 4 RBIs and scored 2 runs. Pagan was a double away from hitting for the cycle.

-David Wright had a solid game, going 3-4 with a walk and 2 RBIs off of a 2-run homer.

-Gary Sheffield aggravated a hamstring injury running out a single in the 6th and came out of the game. He does not believe it is anything serious, and his being taken out was only a precautionary measure.

-Luis Castillo missed today's game due to his sprained ankle from yesterday's dugout steps trip.

-To put it simply- do not expect Jose Reyes back this year. Reyes is now showing scar tissue and inflammation behind his right knee, and is continuing physical therapy in New York.