Major League Baseball

Mets' Niese leaves start vs. Marlins

Published May. 16, 2010 10:57 p.m. ET

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Mets left-hander Jonathon Niese re-injured his right hamstring Sunday and will return to New York for evaluation, further muddling the outlook for a rotation that already had one vacancy.

Niese underwent surgery to repair a torn hamstring tendon Aug. 6 and missed the final two months of last season. The re-injury occurred when he barehanded a bunt in the third inning against the Florida Marlins and planted awkwardly before making a wild throw that allowed a run to score.

Niese left the game one pitch later.

``It was more a scare than anything,'' he said after the Mets lost 10-8 to complete a four-game series sweep. ``I'm feeling a little sore now, nothing major. I don't want to miss a start. I'll do whatever I can, but that being said, I have to listen to the doctors.''

Niese (1-2) gave up five runs, two earned, in two-plus innings. He limped slightly as he walked to the dugout - a worrisome sight for the Mets and manager Jerry Manuel.

``When it's close to how he did last time, of course you're concerned,'' Manuel said. ``We have to be very careful with it. So there is a level of concern.''

The Mets, mired in a season-worst five-game losing streak, already had a vacancy in their rotation with the demotion of left-hander Oliver Perez to the bullpen. They haven't announced a replacement for his scheduled turn Wednesday at Washington.

Candidates to join the rotation include Hisanori Takahashi, who pitched three innings Sunday and is 3-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 15 games out of the bullpen this season. Other possibilities are minor-leaguers Pat Misch and R.A. Dickey.

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