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Mets Shuffle Rotation; Johan Santana Gets Extra Day Of Rest After No-Hitter

NEW YORK (AP) — The Mets shuffled their rotation following Johan Santana's no-hitter and recalled infielder Josh Satin from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday to replace injured outfielder Mike Baxter on the roster.

Hurt while making a sensational catch to save Santana's gem Friday night, Baxter was placed on the 15-day disabled list and is expected to miss about six weeks. The club said Saturday he dislocated the joint between his right collarbone and sternum and tore rib cartilage on his right side when he crashed into the left-field wall to rob Yadier Molina of an extra-base hit.

Baxter wasn't the only player hurt on the night Santana pitched the first no-hitter in team history. New York reliever Ramon Ramirez strained his right hamstring running onto the field for the postgame celebration and was scheduled to be examined by a doctor Monday.

Ramirez could still end up on the disabled list — perhaps when Miguel Batista is activated, which is expected Tuesday.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Chris Young will be called up to start that night at Washington, with Batista backing him up. Young missed most of last season because of shoulder surgery but re-signed with the Mets and has been working his way back in the minors.

Dillon Gee has been moved up a day to start Monday's series finale against St. Louis on his regular four days' rest. Santana, who sat out last season following shoulder surgery, will be given at least one extra day of rest before making his next start. The left-hander threw a career-high 134 pitches Friday night in finishing the no-hitter against the Cardinals.

Santana will pitch Thursday or Friday. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey might start on three days' rest Wednesday in Washington, depending on how his side session goes Monday. The 37-year-old Dickey threw 100 pitches in a shutout of the Cardinals on Saturday.

Santana also is slated to throw a bullpen Monday and that will help determine his status as well, Collins said. Rookie right-hander Jeremy Hefner is the contingency plan for Wednesday or Thursday.

Collins said Santana will be on a much lower pitch count whenever he makes his next start.

"Yeah, 133," the manager joked before getting serious again. "It'll be less. It'll be a lot less."

Playing mostly first base, the 27-year-old Satin was batting .274 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 54 games for Buffalo. He made his big league debut with the Mets last season and went 5 for 25 (.200) with two RBIs in 15 games.

In other injury news, shortstop Ruben Tejada (strained right quadriceps) ran the bases and is slated to play a rehab game Monday with Triple-A Buffalo. Collins said he hopes Tejada will be back Friday.

Left fielder Jason Bay, sidelined since April 24 with a broken rib, had two hits in a rehab game with Class-A St. Lucie. He could play the outfield Monday and return to the Mets on Tuesday.

Baxter grew up a Mets fan 10 minutes from where Citi Field stands. He won the final bench spot in spring training and was so successful as a pinch-hitter early this season that Collins began putting him in the lineup.

New York is 6-0 with Baxter in the leadoff spot. He is batting .323 with 11 doubles, a triple and 10 RBIs in 65 at-bats.

Ramirez was obtained from San Francisco with center fielder Andres Torres in an offseason trade for Angel Pagan. The right-hander has been an important member of an inconsistent bullpen, going 2-1 with a 4.78 ERA and one save in 22 appearances.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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