Sheffield misses another game with aching hamstring
SAN DIEGO - Gary Sheffield skipped his second straight game Friday because of an aching right hamstring, which is starting to seem a lot like the "cramps" that landed him on the disabled list after a prolonged absence last month.
Sheffield was tentatively listed in Thursday's lineup before he became a late scratch, but Jerry Manuel didn't even bother to put him in Friday. Instead, the manager put Cory Sullivan in leftfield, and hesitated to say when Sheffield might return. When asked if this latest hamstring injury to Sheffield would result in another DL stint, Manuel shrugged.
"I don't think so at this point," Manuel said. "I said surgery last time, but I'm not going down that road again. He did a little active workout [Thursday] and he's not quite as comfortable as he'd like to be right now."
Castillo for Sunday?
Luis Castillo, sidelined with a sprained left ankle, took ground balls during batting practice but missed his third straight game. Manuel first predicted a Saturday return for the second baseman, but said on Friday that Castillo was more likely to be back on Sunday.
Anderson Hernandez, acquired Thursday from the Nationals, joined the Mets. But Fernando Tatis got his fourth start at second base this season as Manuel chose to go with offense.
Extra bases
Mike Pelfrey will fly to Arizona on Sunday and start against the Diamondbacks on Monday night, as planned. Pelfrey's wife, Angela, gave birth to the couple's first child, Chase Michael, Thursday in New York . . . Rickey Henderson, inducted into the Hall of Fame last Sunday, was honored at PETCO with a pregame ceremony.
