MET NOTES

Mike Piazza did not make it to his first at-bat last night.

Piazza had to leave the Mets’ game with the Astros after the top of the first inning, suffering a left-wrist contusion. He went for X-rays, but the results were unknown at press time. It also was unclear how Piazza got hurt.

Ramon Castro pinch-hit for Piazza in the bottom of the first inning. Batting in the five-hole, Castro smacked an RBI double to left and stayed in the game.

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Doug Mientkiewicz, who’s out with a bruised rib on his right side and a contusion to his right pectoral muscle, said he is hoping to be able to play tomorrow.

“The pec’s sore, but I’m more worried about the ribs,” Mientkiewicz said. “Ribs linger.”

Mientkiewicz, who hurt himself diving into the stands in Game 2 of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Giants, did do some light hitting yesterday, going into the batting cage and also using a tee.

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One day after Mike Cameron mildly strained his right quad while running, he said yesterday, “I’m doing all right.”

Cameron did not have to come out of the game Tuesday and was in the lineup last night. He said yesterday he originally hurt it in Chicago a month ago and simply aggravated it Tuesday night.

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The Mets signed veteran infielder Jose Offerman to a minor-league deal. Offerman, a 36-year-old switch hitter, hit .182 with a homer in 33 games for the Phillies. He’ll report to Triple-A Norfolk . . . Willie Randolph will be in Brooklyn today for Willie Randolph Day at Floyd Patterson Field in Brownsville. The festivities begin at noon . . . Ugueth Urbina, whom the Mets had talked to the Tigers about in spring training, was traded to the NL East-rival Phillies yesterday . . . In the top of the first, Shea fans in the picnic section in left field did an interesting thing, doing a partial roll call of the Mets players like the Yankees bleacher creatures do at Yankee Stadium . . . Mientkiewicz on Pedro Martinez: “He carries the city on his shoulders every time he goes out there.”