Davis' great catch on foul pop Mets' highlight

The main highlight for the Mets in their 9-3 loss to the Cubs last night was an incredible catch by rookie Ike Davis in the first inning.

Jeff Baker sent a foul pop toward the Mets dugout. Davis, playing his third major-league game, made it over to the railing and leaned in. He caught the ball and tumbled head over feet before landing right side up as if he'd spent most of his off hours practicing the maneuver.

The Mets in the dugout were blocked by a concrete barrier from assisting Davis in case he didn't land well; hitting coach Howard Johnson took some guff for covering his own head in self-defense.

But Davis didn't need any help. "I landed on my feet, so that's good," said Davis, who had not seen a replay immediately after the game. "Did it look weird?"

Actually, it looked spectacular.

DL for Iggy

The numbness in Ryota Igarashi's left hamstring did not improve overnight, so after an MRI the Mets placed the righthander on the 15-day disabled list. The Mets called the injury a "moderate" strain. Igarashi said he had a similar but worse strain two years ago and missed a month. He said he didn't think he would need that long this time.

Manny Acosta, a righty whom the Mets picked up from the Braves on waivers at the end of spring training, was called up from Triple-A Buffalo and made his debut in the loss. Acosta, 28, allowed three runs in 11/3 innings.

Extra bases

Cubs manager Lou Piniella announced that $91.5-million Opening Day starter Carlos Zambrano is going to the bullpen to help the team's ailing relief crew . . . Yankees GM Brian Cashman presented the Cubs' Xavier Nady with a 2009 World Series ring . . . Mike Jacobs, who was designated for assignment on Sunday, cleared waivers.