Quintanilla will play with fractured finger

Omar Quintanilla, the only true shortstop on the Mets' roster, said before Friday's game that X-rays revealed a small fracture of his left index finger. That wasn't enough to keep him out of Friday's lineup, however, and Quintanilla expects to play through the injury. It's not as if the Mets have much choice. "There's a little bit of pain, but it's manageable," Quintanilla said.

Quintanilla hurt himself Wednesday night by jamming the finger -- which he keeps outside his glove -- into the foot of Kirk Nieuwenhuis on a dive for a ball. The next afternoon, Quintanilla went 2-for-3, so manager Terry Collins isn't too worried about the finger, which the shortstop will keep wrapped up during the game. He'll use a cushioning pad when hitting. "I really don't need the finger too much," Quintanilla said.

As for rehabbing shortstops, Ronny Cedeño (calf strain) has begun running the bases in Port St. Lucie, so he's not that close to a return. Ruben Tejada (quad strain) is even further away after a setback.

Bay hits eighth

Jason Bay, after pulling himself from Thursday's lineup, finally returned Friday. It was his first game since he went on the disabled list April 24. Bay has been suffering from flu-like symptoms and still didn't look that great, even after changing his medication.

Collins decided to slowly break in Bay, batting him eighth Friday for the first time in his career. The manager called Bay into the office that afternoon to run it by him.

"I told him you don't have to tell me where you're hitting me," Bay said. "Just throw me out there."

Extra bases

The Mets agreed to terms with first-round pick Gavin Cecchini, who will report to Kingsport, the team's rookie affiliate . . . Jon Rauch said he was OK to pitch after throwing a bullpen session Friday morning and indicated his curious right elbow condition -- one caused by "bones making contact with each other" -- will not need surgery. Asked about a procedure to fix the problem, he replied, "If I had to have surgery, I would have had it." Rauch pitched a scoreless eighth inning Friday night . . . The Mets activated Chris Young from the paternity list and optioned Pedro Beato to Triple-A Buffalo.