MET NOTES

MIAMI – Edgardo Alfonzo’s sprained left index finger felt better yesterday, but it didn’t feel good enough for him to start. He is hopeful to play tomorrow in Pittsburgh.

“We’ll see,” said Alfonzo, while riding a stationary bike before the Mets’ 4-2 loss to the Marlins yesterday.

Alfonzo had more movement in the swollen finger yesterday as he could bend it further. He still didn’t grab a bat.

After today’s day off, he thinks if the progress remains, the same then he will be able to play tomorrow.

“The whole thing will be his hitting,” Bobby Valentine said.

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Desi Relaford started for Alfonzo and went 0-for-3 with an inconsequential first-inning error . . . Joe McEwing started at short for the hot Rey Ordonez, because in part the latter’s back stiffened up Saturday night. McEwing smacked an RBI single in the fourth for the game’s first run. Ordonez is expected to be fine for tomorrow’s game in Pittsburgh.

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While the Mets had the break advantage in the first three games, the Marlins had it yesterday. In the fourth, Kevin Millar hit a drive to the right field wall. Valentine argued that a young fan touched the ball, which would’ve made it a double. But Millar was awarded a triple and he eventually scored.

In the sixth, the Marlins took the lead against Steve Trachsel when Cliff Floyd led off with a checked-swing roller that became an infield hit when Robin Ventura couldn’t handle it. Mike Lowell drove in Floyd by serving an outside fastball into right.

Marlins starter Matt Clement left the game after four innings with right bicep tightness. Former Met Juan Acevedo came in and didn’t allow a hit over three innings to pick up the win.

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Triple-A Norfolk lost a decisive Game 5 to Louisville, 2-0, yesterday in the International League playoffs. Pat Strange gave up two runs on nine hits in 42/3 innings. After the loss, the Mets called up outfielder Alex Escobar, pitchers Dicky Gonzalez and Mark Corey, and catcher Jason Phillips. Jae Seo will pitch in the Arizona Fall League.

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After appearing Saturday in a game for the first time since Aug. 28, John Franco (elbow tendinitis) felt fine yesterday. Franco said he could’ve thrown changeups to Cliff Floyd when he entered the game Saturday, but chose not to.

Floyd ended up hitting a go-ahead, two-run double on a fastball. Franco said his elbow hurts more when he throws the change, so he’ll probably go with more sliders.