Jeff Francoeur received a jolt when he was removed from the Mets’ 14-1 loss to Arizona in the fifth inning, along with Jon Niese, as part of a double switch.
Frustrated, the Mets’ slumping right fielder walked to the dugout and retreated up the runway to the clubhouse.
“It was a [stinky] game all around,” he said.
Manager Jerry Manuel said he removed Francoeur because he needed to get work for reliever Elmer Dessens, who would have been due to bat in the following inning.
Francoeur went 0-for-2 against Daniel Hudson and finished the homestand 1-for-19 (.053). He is batting .108 since the All-Star break.
With the Braves scheduled to send right-handed starters to the mound over the next three days, it remains to be seen if Manuel will start Francoeur in Atlanta. The Mets have Chris Carter and Jesus Feliciano available to play the corner outfield positions.
“Maybe going home and sleeping in my own bed will be the cure,” said Francoeur, an Atlanta native. “I am looking forward to that.”
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Jason Bay remained apart from the team as he continues to rest at home with concussion symptoms.
Francoeur said he spoke Saturday night with Bay, and the left fielder was feeling better. But yesterday, Bay spoke to trainer Ray Ramirez, according to Manuel, and said his headaches had returned.
Bay sustained the concussion crashing into the left-field fence at Dodger Stadium 10 days ago.
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Manuel tip-toed around the issue of Oliver Perez‘s standing on the team. The putrid lefty allowed four earned runs over two innings during garbage time. He now has a 6.70 ERA.
“He’s in a tough spot, not getting the reps to gain confidence so he can compete,” Manuel said. “He did go out and throw strikes for the most part, but right now he’s just in a tough situation.”
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Jose Reyes went 0-for-3 to snap a 12-game hitting streak, the longest by a Mets player this season. He was 19-for-57 (.333) during the streak.
