Torres latest slumping regular benched
Andres Torres rounds third base to score during a game against the Miami Marlins. (May 12, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
PITTSBURGH -- For the second straight night, Mets manager Terry Collins sat a slumping regular.
On Monday, it was Ike Davis. Tuesday night, Collins benched centerfielder Andres Torres, who struck out as a pinch hitter in the eighth, dropping his average to .187 as he endures an 0-for-17 and 1-for-34 skid.
"I haven't done what I'm supposed to do," Torres said before the game. "This game, you have to make your job. You have to get it done. And I feel bad that I haven't performed like I wanted. But I'm here. I just have to find a way to get on base and get hits."
Collins wants Torres to get to where he was from April 30-May 6, when he hit .368 and ignited the attack. The Mets could be facing an outfield glut when Jason Bay returns from the disabled list. Collins wouldn't guarantee Torres' status as a regular.
"Everything is going to be re-evaluated as we go," he said. "But we know how we play when he gets on base. It's quite obvious, when he gets on, we score and we play very good. He's played very good centerfield. But right now he's mired in a real tough slump, so I just thought I'd get somebody else in there to see if we can get this thing kick-started a little bit."
Kirk Nieuwenhuis opened the game in center with Mike Baxter batting leadoff and playing left. Those two combined for an embarrassing moment in Monday night's 5-4 loss when they collided in left-center on a routine fly ball in the eighth inning, leading to the go-ahead run.
Trainer's room
Shortstop Ruben Tejada (right quad strain) had four hits in a Gulf Coast League rehab game and could return to the Mets this weekend . . . Catcher Rob Johnson reported improvement with his sore left thumb.
