Beltran Returns to Clubhouse

Carlos Beltran returned to the Met clubhouse Sunday for the first time since his head-to-head collision with teammate Mike Cameron. He will see a doctor today in New York to find out when he can play again.

“I just feel happy that I’m alive and that I’m going to be back on the field,” Beltran said in the visiting dugout at Dodger Stadium about 90 minutes before Sunday’s game.

Beltran and Cameron were running full speed toward David Ross’ fly to right-center during Thursday’s 2-1 loss at San Diego, and their heads hit as they left their feet to catch the ball.

“I have a little fracture, and it moved about six millimeters,” Beltran said, pointing to his left sideburn. “They want to see if it moved more, or went back in place. And if it did, they won’t have to do surgery. I don’t want to go through surgery.”

Cameron sustained a concussion, a broken nose and two fractured cheekbones, forcing the two-time Gold Glove winner to undergo surgery Friday night. Beltran had a fracture in his left cheekbone, a concussion and soreness in his left biceps.

“I didn’t have a lot of range of motion, but today I feel like I can extend my arm good,” Beltran said. “It’s sore, but there’s no pain.”

He stayed in San Diego for a day after the incident, rejoining the team at its hotel Friday.

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Kirk Rueter’s 10th season with the San Francisco Giants was his worst, and his last.

The Giants designated Rueter for assignment after activating him from the disabled list. The 34-year-old left-hander lost his spot in the rotation last month and is 2-7 with a 5.95 earned-run average in 20 games.

“There’s a time in everyone’s career when things start to happen,” Manager Felipe Alou said. “We expected a lot from him. I hope he goes to another team. He’s still young enough to contribute.”

Rueter had been with the Giants since 1996, compiling a record of 105-80. He ranks third in career starts for San Francisco with 277, trailing only Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry.

Rueter had been on the disabled list because of gout in his right big toe and last pitched July 29, when he was chased in the fourth inning against Milwaukee.