Ruben Tejada's bat not rusty despite layoff
Ruben Tejada singles to center field in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. (June 29, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
LOS ANGELES -- Almost lost in the late-night coverage of R.A. Dickey's 12th win Friday was the 4-for-5 night of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada, who has been sizzling since returning from the disabled list.
Tejada, who went into Saturday night batting .318, is 10-for-27 (.370) since returning last Sunday. He was hitting .421 in the nine games before he went on the shelf May 7 with a strained right quad.
Like Jose Reyes, the man he replaced, Tejada has been very effective when healthy.
"He knew he was replacing Jose and he came into spring training and never tried to do more than he was capable of," manager Terry Collins said. "We said, 'You don't have to be Jose Reyes. Just be Ruben Tejada.' . . . I just think he's going to end up down the road here, in a couple years his name's going to be mentioned among the elite shortstops."
Reyes ended Saturday batting .271 for the Marlins.
Prospect updates
Top prospect Matt Harvey threw seven shutout innings for Triple-A Buffalo against Louisville on Friday. He allowed two hits and walked one with nine strikeouts.
Harvey, who was named to the International League All-Star team last week, is 7-3 with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts.
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo, last year's first-round pick, hit a grand slam for Brooklyn Saturday night. Pitcher Zack Wheeler, an Eastern League All-Star, got his first professional hit Saturday night, an RBI double for Binghamton.
Extra bases
The Mets signed six of their draft picks, including second-rounder Matt Reynolds, a third baseman from the University of Arkansas. He will report to Class A Savannah . . . Dickey is the third Met to post 12 wins before July 1. Tom Seaver did it in 1969 and '70 and Bobby Jones did it in '97. Dickey was 5-0 with a 0.93 ERA in June.
