sea/nym

[IE]

The New York Mets were rained out for the third time in five days, with showers forcing the postponement of Saturday night's game against the Seattle Mariners.

Despite the rain, players from both teams arrived at Shea Stadium during the afternoon. With the forecast calling for the rain to get heavier, the game was called two hours before its scheduled 7:10 p.m. EDT start.

The game was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader Sunday at 12:10 p.m. EDT. Saturday night's scheduled starters -- Seattle's Freddy Garcia and New York's Al Leiter -- are to pitch in the opener. The Mariners' Jamie Moyer and the Mets' Mike Bacsik are to pitch the second game.

New York was rained out against Milwaukee on Tuesday and Wednesday, and made up one of the games as part of a doubleheader that the Brewers swept Thursday. The other game was rescheduled for July 28.

The Mets have had four rainouts this season, all at home. An April 26 game against Arizona was washed out and played as part of a doubleheader the following day, which the Diamondbacks swept.

 

[Bobmac]

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[RAYMOND]

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[kickserv]

yep.....IE always on top of things...much appreciated

 

[IE]

Alex Rodriguez was out of the Texas Rangers' starting lineup on Saturday night against Montreal with a bruised left knee.

``I tweaked it a little bit last night,'' he said. ``I'm not sure what play. It started welling up last night, so I iced it and took anti-inflammatories.''

Rodriguez has played in all of Texas' 383 games since signing a record $252 million, 10-year contract with the Rangers before the 2001 season. He hasn't missed a game since July 23, 2000, when he was still in Seattle.


He had played 445 consecutive games going into Saturday night. Oakland's Miguel Tejada had the longest active streak of 491 games.

``An injury is an injury,'' Rodriguez said. ``My focus has never been to play every day, just to play every day. I play every day to help my team win games. If I'm hurt, I won't help the team in the long run to play. I'm better off taking a day off.''

Manager Buck Showalter said Rodriguez might be available as a pinch-hitter in the game. He also said he would consider holding Rodriguez out Sunday as well because of the artificial turf at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

``That's a possibility,'' Showalter said. ``We'll see what tomorrow brings. We'll see how he feels.''

The Rangers also made two roster moves, activating right-hander Chan Ho Park and outfielder Doug Glanville from the 15-day disabled list. Texas optioned right-hander Reynaldo Garcia to Triple-A Oklahoma and outrighted outfielder Ryan Christenson to Oklahoma.

Park started Saturday's game and Glanville led off and played center field.

Park went on the disabled list April 28 with a strained lower back. He was 2-0 with a 4.60 ERA in five rehab starts for Oklahoma and Double-A Frisco. Park is 1-3 with a 7.16 ERA this season and has won only 10 games since signing a $65 million, five-year, contract with Texas before the 2002 season.

Glanville had been sidelined since April 14 with a torn right hamstring tendon. He went 8-for-51 in 13 rehab games for Oklahoma and Frisco.