Mets rally after Tejada breaks leg

NEW YORK -- Even a stirring comeback win came at a hefty price for the perpetually star-crossed New York Mets.

Josh Satin's two-out, two-run single capped a furious four-run ninth inning by the Mets, who edged the San Francisco Giants 5-4 Wednesday at Citi Field.

Satin's hit scored Zach Lutz and Anthony Recker and unleashed an enthusiastic celebration between first and second base by the Mets. However, their mood was considerably tempered once they arrived in the locker room and learned that shortstop Ruben Tejada suffered a broken right fibula in the top of the ninth inning, when he collided with left fielder Andrew Brown while pursuing Angel Pagan's fly to shallow left.

Of the 25 players who opened the season with the Mets, 13 have hit the disabled list, and another nine were either sent to the minor leagues at some point or traded.

"When I was told on the bench what happened, that it was broken, I just looked at (bench coach) Bob (Geren) and said, 'Well, what else can there be? I mean, of course it's going to be broken,'" Mets manager Terry Collins said.

This is the second serious injury suffered this season by Tejada, who strained his right quad May 29 and was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas upon completing his rehab July 7.

The Mets, unhappy with Tejada's conditioning and performance earlier in the season, didn't recall him until Sept. 10, three days after Las Vegas completed its season. He started seven of the Mets' past eight games and struggled at the plate (three hits in 21 at-bats) while providing solid defense at shortstop.

"You feel bad for Ruben because he had something to really prove here in the last couple weeks, and now he's not going to get that chance," Collins said.

Tejada looked particularly impressive on the fateful play Wednesday, when he raced into foul territory and caught Pagan's popup despite banging his right leg against the right leg of the sliding Brown.

"I was trying to go down low, like we were taught, and go down (and) try to get out of the way," Brown said. "He caught my leg and it makes me feel really horrible, to be honest with you. It's the last thing I want to do."

Tejada's injury overshadowed an impressive ninth inning by the Mets, who got just two runners into scoring position in the first eight innings against Matt Cain.

New York rallied in the ninth against Santiago Casilla and Sergio Romo, who combined to issue three walks and allow three hits.

All six Mets who reached base in the ninth started the season in the minor leagues, which made the comeback a vital teaching point for a team that has already clinched a fifth straight losing season

"Guys think they can play when they have good at-bats like that against Romo or even if it's a good at-bat against Matt Cain," Collins said. "Whether you got a hit or made an out, (they think) 'Hey, look, I can play here.' And it's going to help. These kind of games make you better players."

Brown led off by drawing a walk off Casilla. After Lucas Duda struck out, Juan Lagares walked. Romo, who threw 25 pitches in a non-save situation Tuesday, came on and gave up an RBI double to Zach Lutz, who was pinch-hitting for Tejada.

Juan Centeno, who was making his major league debut, followed with an infield single to make it 4-3. Matt den Dekker, who scored the Mets' first run on Satin's sacrifice fly in the eighth, drew a walk to load the bases before pinch hitter Omar Quintanilla flied out to shallow right. Satin then hit a 2-2 pitch to left field.

"We're all a bunch of young guys trying to show what we can do and come together as a team and battle through adversity," Satin said. "(To) come back like that is awesome, because we didn't play a great game."

Vic Black (2-0) earned the win with a perfect ninth. Romo fell to 4-8.

Cain was in line to even his record at 9-9 before the Mets stormed back. He allowed an unearned run on six hits and walked none while striking out six over 7 2/3 innings.

"He was great," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He pitched well. It's a shame we couldn't get a win for him."

Mets starter Aaron Harang allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out eight, and he has whiffed 18 batters over 11 innings in his two starts for New York.

NOTES: Centeno started at catcher for the Mets in place of Travis d'Arnaud, who left Tuesday's series opener after he was hit in the right shoulder by a foul ball. D'Arnaud was sore Wednesday, but Collins was hopeful he'd be back for Thursday's game. Centeno singled in the fifth and finished 2-for-4. ... Collins said RHP Zack Wheeler could make two more starts this season. Wheeler has thrown 168 2/3 innings between the majors and minors this year and is expected to be shut down at or around 180 innings. ... An MRI on the left ring finger of Giants SS Marco Scutaro was negative, but he is expected to be out until at least Friday. ... Giants LHP Jeremy Affeldt (left groin) is likely done for the season. Affeldt was out from July 21 through Sept. 11 but felt soreness after pitching one-third of an inning against the Dodgers on Sept. 12.