Mets having trouble getting Nuñez out

Mark Teixeira thought Eduardo Nuñez's day could have been better. "Should have been 8-for-8,'' Teixeira said, laughing.

After going 4-for-4 with a double Friday night, Nuñez went 3-for-4 with a a long homer and two doubles Saturday. Only second baseman Justin Turner's diving grab of a line drive up the middle in the sixth kept him from a second straight 4-for-4 day.

Nuñez entered the series on a 6-for-33 skid, but his 7-for-8 effort the last two days raised his average since replacing Derek Jeter to .339 (20-for-59). The Yankees are 14-3 in those games.

"I think all the Reyes talk I had yesterday, maybe he took it a little personal,'' said Alex Rodriguez, who on Friday referred to Jose Reyes as the "world's greatest player.''

Nuñez's time as Jeter's replacement will come to an end soon, presumably Monday night in Cleveland, when Jeter comes off the DL. But that doesn't mean Joe Girardi is looking to fasten the rookie to the bench.

"We will continue to try to get him at-bats,'' Girardi said, mentioning as possibilities some days at DH or resting Jeter or Robinson Cano at second. "That's what we need to do. He's playing extremely well and we'll try to keep him going.''

Fingers crossed

Though middle relievers typically get passed over for the All-Star Game, David Robertson hopes to be an exception when the picks for the July 12 game in Phoenix are announced Sunday. But he's not counting on it.

"I don't want to get too excited, then not get to go,'' said Robertson, who has allowed one earned run in his last 191/3 innings and has a 1.08 ERA, second-lowest among pitchers with a minimum of 30 innings pitched. He has struck out 53 in 331/3 innings.

Getting picked would be a boost for the charity he and his wife, Erin, started to benefit his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Ala., which was devastated by a tornado April 27. Information on the charity can be found on highsocksforhope.com.

"It would be a good venue to get the word out to everybody,'' Robertson said. "That would be really big.''

Not surprisingly, a Robertson bid has plenty of support in the clubhouse. "Robertson has stepped up and has been like a magical eighth-inning guy,'' Rodriguez said. "I'm hoping and cheering he's in Arizona.''

Extra bases

Brian Gordon, 32, a converted outfielder who was 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA in two starts, was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to free up a roster spot for Bartolo Colon . . . RHP Carlos Silva, on the disabled list for the second time in a month with right shoulder soreness, was released.