EY Jr. Scratched, Hopes to Return Tomorrow

By Danny Abriano
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Mets outfielder Eric Young, Jr., who left yesterday’s game in the fourth inning due to pain in his right knee, was scratched from today’s lineup after initially being penciled in as the leadoff hitter.

Jul 23, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons (19) tags out New York Mets left fielder Eric Young Jr. (22) trying to steal in the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

Young, 28, initially tweaked the knee on Wednesday night during the collision at first base with Atlanta’s Tim Hudson that left Hudson with a broken right ankle.  Young remained in the game after the collision with Hudson, but left yesterday’s game early after feeling discomfort in the knee while running from second to third base.

Here’s what Young had to say regarding the injury earlier this afternoon:

"No more pain.  It felt a lot better today.  It’s just a matter of if I needed to explode, or score that run from first, could I give it that all-out that I’m capable of doing.  With that question mark, there’s no sense.  It just wasn’t feeling like my other leg. Like I said, there wasn’t any pain.  But I don’t want to go out there and compensate and maybe hurt something else with the question mark in my head… I was able to do all the drills today.  Like I said, it just didn’t feel like my other leg."

Young hopes to be able to return to the lineup tomorrow.

Since joining the Mets a little over a month ago in exchange for pitcher Collin McHugh, he’s been a spark-plug at the top of the lineup.  In 31 games since the trade (131 at bats), Young is hitting .275 with a .351 OBP, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 19 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases.

In Young’s absence, center fielder Juan Lagares is batting leadoff for the first game of today’s day/night doubleheader in Washington D.C.

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