Thumb injury lands Mets' Cora on DL

LOS ANGELES -- On a day the Mets learned they would be without Carlos Delgado for an extended period of time, they suffered yet another loss.

The club placed infielder Alex Cora on the 15-day disabled list with a torn ligament in his right thumb, recalling Ramon Martinez to take his roster spot and start at shortstop for Monday's series opener against the Dodgers. Regular shortstop Jose Reyes remains unavailable with tendinitis in his right calf.

Cora, who thought he had merely sprained his thumb sliding into second base in the first inning of Sunday's game, attempted to take batting and fielding practice Monday afternoon at Dodger Stadium. But he was unable to throw, and tests revealed that he had suffered a torn ligament in the thumb.

Martinez, 36, played in seven games last season for the Mets, producing four hits in 16 at-bats.

(mlb.com)