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Mets' Pagan may have to pay for hard-nosed play

BY DAVID LENNON | david.lennon@newsday.com

May 8, 2008

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LOS ANGELES - At first glance, seeing Angel Pagan go flying over the side wall in leftfield after catching Andre Ethier's foul pop looked funny, like something from a blooper reel. But that changed as soon as third-base umpire Tim Tschida signaled to the Mets' dugout for help. When manager Willie Randolph and trainer Ray Ramirez reached Pagan, he was still lying on the concrete floor of the stands.

"My shoulder got stuck on one of the seats," Pagan said. "It felt like it dislocated and came back again. It was numb, but little by little, the feeling started coming back."

Pagan stayed in the game after Ramirez had him test the shoulder, but he lasted only until the third inning, when a headfirst slide into second on a stolen-base attempt aggravated the right shoulder. Pagan said that doctors told him it was a labrum issue and he's scheduled for an MRI today.

"You do anything to stay in the game," said Pagan, still hurting as he spoke at his locker after the 12-1 win over the Dodgers. "But you can't be Rambo."

Dirty Penny?

After John Maine knocked down Jeff Kent with a fastball near his face in the fourth inning, it appeared that Brad Penny tried to retaliate against Ryan Church in the fifth.

Church was quick enough to mostly avoid the inside fastball, so he really didn't pay much of a price for Maine's high-and-tight pitch. "It hit my button," Church said. "I don't care. It didn't hurt." Plate umpire Jim Joyce did take notice, however, and immediately warned both benches.

Extra bases

Orlando Hernandez was examined in New York on Tuesday by foot specialist Jonathan Deland, who recommended that El Duque remove the boot and begin light running. Hernandez had been bothered by a sore tendon in his right foot, and without any timetable for his return, the Mets are just hoping he can resume limited baseball activity without discomfort ... When Moises Alou stole home in Tuesday's loss, he became the first player 40 or older to do so since Paul Molitor (1998).

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