MET NOTES

After yesterday’s 3-1 win, the Reds left town with a three-game sweep at Shea, their first since May 31-June 2, 1999, but don’t think the Reds will be too giddy when they head back to Cincinnati.

The city has seen several days of rioting after 19-year-old Tim Thomas was shot to death while running from police. The National Guard was brought in, and Reds CEO John Allen will meet today with city officials to discuss contingency plans for the five-game homestand that starts tomorrow (two games against Milwaukee, three more against the Mets).

“It’s an unfortunate situation, No. 1 for the family, the wife, and the young kid who’ll never see his father again,” said Ken Griffey Jr. “I’m just hoping things calm down and get back to normal. It’s scary any time a large number of people are [rioting]. Anytime the National Guard comes in, and there’s a curfew, it’s scary.”

Griffey didn’t start for the 12th straight game, due to the gimpy left hamstring he strained on March 26. He’s been limited to pinch-hitting duty and hasn’t enjoyed it much, now 0-for-8 after grounding out to second in the seventh against Turk Wendell. He’s still hoping to return to the lineup tomorrow against the Brewers.

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Reliever Rick White, coming off an injured right elbow, threw a two-inning, 39-pitch simulated game yesterday morning. The workout lasted half-an-hour, and was pain-free. He’ll throw a five-minute side session tomorrow, and throw two innings in an exhibition game Thursday at Norfolk. He isn’t expected to need a rehab assignment.

“I felt real good. I threw all my pitches, I threw them for strikes, everything felt real good. Hopefully I can get off the DL in a few days, come off for the Reds series next weekend. I haven’t lost the strike zone yet, everything’s right there, so the sooner the better,” said White, who added that he’ll have bone spurs removed from that elbow in the offseason.

He changed his mechanics in spring training. But after throwing four innings in his debut, he developed pain and inflammation in his elbow. He has since altered his mechanics again, and is throwing pain-free.

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OFs Benny Agbayani (fractured left wrist) and Timo Perez (strained groin) are both making progress. Agbayani will resume swinging today, and manager Bobby Valentine said, “Timo feels excellent. We probably made a mistake [putting him on the DL]. He didn’t need two weeks.” Both are due to come off the DL on April 24.