Daniel Murphy shakes off shoulder 'spasm,' gets 3 hits right away

PHILADELPHIA -- Daniel Murphy didn't think it was anything more than a "spasm" when he injured his right shoulder on a swing in the eighth inning of Sunday's Mets game.

An MRI taken Monday showed Murphy had only tightness in his rotator cuff and he started at second base Tuesday night against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

"A relief, but it just affirmed what I thought," Murphy said. "It's pretty much what I thought it would be."

Murphy, who had singles in each of his first three at-bats Tuesday night, went 3-for-5 and is batting .286 with four home runs and 53 RBIs. He has not been what the Mets thought he would be this season. He has become a passable second baseman; he made his 12th error in 109 games at second base when he dropped a foul pop in the second inning.

But Murphy's bat has lagged, much to the surprise of manager Terry Collins. Murphy went into the game with six hits in his previous 54 at-bats (.111) and has endured a 3-for-33 streak this year.

"Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think Dan Murphy would go 3-for-33," Collins said. "As good a hitter as he is and as good a swing as he's got."

McHugh gotta believe

Collin McHugh, who threw seven shutout innings in his big-league debut Thursday before being sent to Triple-A Buffalo the next day, will start for the Mets on Monday in St. Louis, Collins confirmed.

Tuesday night, McHugh allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings for Buffalo against Rochester.

Hairston in the dark

Scott Hairston said he had not been told anything about his waiver status. Reports Monday said the Mets had put the outfielder on waivers and he was claimed by a team that was trying to block another team from acquiring him.