Workload lands Mets reliever Beato on DL

Pedro Beato, one of the Mets' early success stories, became their latest casualty Wednesday when the team placed him on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis.

Beato, 24, threw three scoreless innings Sunday in the Mets' 14-inning, 2-1, victory over the Phillies, and then didn't feel right when he attempted to play catch before Tuesday's game. Manager Terry Collins held him out that night, and then they sent him to the doctor Wednesday, the diagnosis prompted the DL stint.

"I don't know what happened," Collins said. "I know that [Tuesday] he said his elbow was bothering him a little bit, which I thought was natural after his outing the other night. But the doctors said there was a small strain, that he needs to rest, and it went from a few days to 10 in a matter of hours."

That could be related to Beato's increased workload this season. He had been a starter in the Orioles' system before they converted him to a closer last year at Double-A Bowie. But Beato said he was still adjusting to a relief role in the majors, and after 11 appearances in the first 28 games, it might have taken a toll. "Now that I'm throwing a lot more often," Beato said, "that's what got me."

Extra bases

The manager hoped that Jason Bay would return from paternity leave for Thursday's series finale against the Giants. The couple had a son, Garrett David . . . Bobby Parnell (circulatory problem) was expected to pitch Saturday in an extended spring game . . . Mike Pelfrey, who will start Thursday, appreciated that Collins took the blame for his rough outing last Friday. The manager said he shouldn't have started him because of his weeklong illness. "I told him thank you," Pelfrey said, "but he didn't need to do that."