Piazza Isn’t Ready for Return to Mets

Mike Piazza said he might extend his minor league rehabilitation assignment for the New York Mets.

Piazza, who had one hit in three at-bats and caught six innings Saturday night in his third rehab outing with triple-A Norfolk, has been able to hit only in the batting cages beneath the right-field stands because of rain the last week.

“I want to get my timing back,” Piazza said. “I don’t want to be in a hole when I get back to New York. I want to take my time and get my at-bats.”

Piazza said those at-bats could come at Norfolk on Wednesday and possibly beginning Friday at double-A Binghamton, if he doesn’t feel comfortable at the plate.

“I am getting to what I feel like in the middle of spring training,” Piazza said. “Once I get 12 to 15 at-bats, we’ll see where I am.”

The Mets put Piazza on the 15-day disabled list May 17 because of a severely strained right groin.

*

Montreal catcher Michael Barrett broke his left index finger while on a rehab assignment with the triple-A Edmonton Trappers in a Pacific Coast League game at Sacramento.

Barrett, who has been on the disabled list since July 27 with a right hip-flexor strain, played five innings and had one hit in three at-bats before the injury Saturday night.

*

Umpire Laz Diaz said he would fight back if he’s attacked again.

“If anybody comes on the field, jumps on a player or one of our umpires, the gloves are off,” said Diaz, who in April was attacked by a spectator who ran on the field. “There is not a security guard that’s going to stop me.”

The man accused of attacking him during a Chicago White Sox-Kansas City Royal game at U.S. Cellular Field, Eric Dybas, has pleaded not guilty to one count of felony aggravated battery and one count of misdemeanor criminal trespass.

*

Pawtucket’s Bronson Arroyo pitched the fourth nine-inning perfect game in the 120-year history of the International League to lead the Red Sox to a 7-0 win over the Buffalo Bisons at Pawtucket, R.I.

Arroyo, who struck out nine in the 101-pitch outing, went to a three-ball count on only three batters and allowed only four balls out of the infield.

The league’s last nine-inning perfect game was thrown by Pawtucket’s Tomo Ohka, now with the Montreal Expos, who beat the Charlotte Knights, 2-0, on June 1, 2000.