MET NOTES

With a seven-run lead and the game well in hand Tuesday night, Willie Randolph made a bullpen call during the seventh inning.

With one out and nobody on, the Met manager summoned rookie lefty Royce Ring because he wanted him to face Philly lefties Bob Abreu and Jim Thome. Ring retired Abreu on a fly out to right with a slider, and he froze Thome on a fastball away.

“If I can do that on a regular basis, that’s my job,” Ring said yesterday.

The 24-year-old has been unscored upon in nine of his last 12 appearances. Randolph likes his deception and his slider and said he would be getting most of his opportunities against left-handed hitters.

It’s been a nice rebound from last season, when Ring was demoted from Triple A Norfolk to Double A Binghamton.

“He’s getting better and better,” Randolph said. “We need to put him in some spots where he can be effective and hopes he gains more confidence.

“Once he gains his confidence, he’ll be even better than he is now.”

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Miguel Cairo (strained left hamstring) was washed out in his attempts to play rehab games Tuesday night and yesterday afternoon, but the Mets were trying to get him into a game last night.

Cairo is eligible to return today, but it looks as if he won’t return until tomorrow at the earliest.

“He might’ve been here if he played (Tuesday),” Randolph admitted. “But we’re not gonna rush him.”

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Omar Minaya said the club has begun discussions with first-round pick Mike Pelfrey, a righty from Wichita State. The Met GM said there hasn’t been substantive progress and nothing is close, but he held out the possibility Pelfrey could begin his pro career this season.

“Is it realistic? Yes, but we have to wait,” Minaya said.