DENVER (AP) - The New York Mets have to stay an extra day in the Rockies because their series finale was postponed by a mixture of rain and snow.
First baseman Ike Davis, however, flew back to New York on Wednesday to get his injured left calf examined by team physicians.
Being the last contest between the two teams this season and with both having mutual off days Thursday, the game was rescheduled for 24 hours later as a steady stream of sleet pelted the Mile High City. The weather was expected to be a little better for the game Thursday afternoon, but rain was still in the forecast, along with cool temperatures.
This postponement and Oakland’s washout at Texas raised the major league total this year to 21 _ matching last year’s big league total.
The focus of the Mets wasn’t so much on rain drops as Davis’ health.
He left in the fifth inning of New York’s 4-3 win over Colorado on Tuesday night after he strained the calf when he collided with third baseman David Wright’s foot as the two closed in on Troy Tulowitzki’s popup. Davis bounced up quickly but was limping noticeably. He remained in the game for the final out of the inning, only to be replaced in the field to start the fifth.
“We didn’t really collide that hard _ I think I just rolled my ankle or something. At the time there was a lot of pain everywhere,” Davis said Tuesday night. “I actually don’t think it’s going to be that long.”
The unexpected day off couldn’t have come at a better time for Rockies outfielder Dexter Fowler. Limping out of the clubhouse Wednesday morning, the speedy center fielder was headed straight home to recline on the couch and ice his bruised left knee.
Fowler left the game Tuesday after fouling a pitch off his kneecap. He was sore and smarting as he arrived at the ballpark. But Mother Nature did him a big favor.
“Crazy weather,” Fowler said. “I’d rather play, but it gives me another day. All I’m going to do is sleep and ice this knee. That’s it.”
The heavy flakes of snow falling at times around Denver made it feel more like skiing than baseball weather. Highs were expected to reach only around 45 degrees Wednesday, far below the average of 69. Some of the Rockies certainly dressed for the inclement weather as trainer Keith Dugger showed up at the park wearing a winter jacket, while pitcher Franklin Morales donned a stocking cap.
This kind of weather isn’t all that unusual for Denver. Spring snowstorms typically pop up, but more so in April than May.
There also was a winter storm warning for the mountains, where nearly a foot of snow was expected to fall.
The conditions are supposed to be a little more baseball friendly Thursday.
“We just had a cold, spring storm move across the area,” explained Dan Leszcynski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “But the weather should improve.”
The Mets are slated to send Jonathon Niese (1-4) to the mound. The lefty went 5 2-3 innings and gave up three runs in his last outing, a 6-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Rockies will counter with ace Ubaldo Jimenez, who’s still searching for his first win of the year. The All-Star flamethrower has been bothered by a cracked cuticle on his pitching thumb this season. He’s also wrestled with his command.
But Jimenez (0-2) appeared to have his issues sorted out in his start last Friday at San Francisco, giving up two hits and one run over six innings in a no-decision. It was his first quality start of the season.
Jimenez has been tough on the Mets at Coors Field, going 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA.
NOTES: With the postponement, the Mets will throw RHP Dillon Gee on Friday in Houston and RHP R.A. Dickey on Saturday. Lefty Chris Capuano will close out the three-game series with the Astros by taking the mound Sunday.
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