Notebook | Felix Hernandez pushing to pitch, M's not so sure

NEW YORK — Felix Hernandez was walking around in a plastic boot on Tuesday, but that was a precautionary measure to reduce the swelling and limit the stress on his sprained left ankle.

"He's very sore. I saw him walk in kind of hobbling," said Mariners pitching coaching Mel Stottlemyre. "I said, 'Oh oh.' "

Hernandez is still vowing to make his next scheduled start Sunday against the Padres. Though the doctor who examined him Monday night said the sprain was mild, the Mariners plan to be cautious.

"He thinks he'll pitch Sunday," Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said. "I don't know he will. Certainly, I'm going to be a little more conservative than that. If we get him back a couple of days after Sunday, I'll be real happy."

Mariners trainer Rick Griffin said he initially was worried that Mets base runner Carlos Beltran had spiked Hernandez, who was covering home on a wild pitch when he got hurt on Beltran's slide.

"I was worried about his Achilles," Griffin said. "I saw his foot get hit, and I saw his ankle turn, but I was worried about a spike, because I saw the runner's spike get right on his foot."

What might have saved Hernandez from more serious injury, Griffin said, is that the Mariners' training staff tapes his ankle before every start.

"A lot of times he comes down on the follow-through and lands in a hole, and kind of tweaks it," he said. "We've always taped his ankle since I've had him."

Griffin said Hernandez was to be examined by a second doctor Tuesday night "to reassure Felix."

Stottlemyre's slam

In the wake of Hernandez's grand slam Monday, Stottlemyre was coaxed to do more reminiscing about his own, inside-the-park grand slam on July 20, 1965.

Stottlemyre, a member of the Yankees, hit it against Boston, at Yankee Stadium, off Bill Monboquette.

"They were playing me the wrong way," Stottlemyre recalled. "[Carl] Yastrzemski in left field was playing me very shallow, and a little bit to pull. I guess they were trying to protect against a little short pop-up.

"The center fielder was Reggie Smith, who was playing me toward right-center. There was a huge gap in left-center. It was a line drive that went to the wall and bounced back. I could run decent at that time — I was 34, 40 pounds lighter. I'm one of the few guys who could say he pinch-ran for Mickey Mantle a few times.

"I do remember coming around third, I wanted to stop. Frank Crosetti was the third-base coach. He waved me on. I had to slide — it was a fall."

Believe it or not, that wasn't the offensive highlight of Stottlemyre's Yankees' career. He had a 5-for-5 game against the Washington Senators in 1964 — and pitched a complete-game, two-hit shutout as well.

"Actually, I think that game was more thrilling than the grand slam," he said. "That was because Mickey Mantle went 0 for 4. He let me know. That was one of those days I couldn't do anything wrong, pitching or hitting."

Notes

• With the bullpen having been taxed recently, Jarrod Washburn volunteered to pitch in relief if needed Tuesday.

• Manager Jim Riggleman said that Erik Bedard (back spasms) reported improvement on Tuesday. Bedard or R.A. Dickey are possible starters on Sunday when Felix Hernandez's turn comes up.

• Mets manager Jerry Manuel was ejected in the fourth by home plate umpire Brian Runge, who appeared to bump Manuel as they jawed. Manuel was arguing a strike call on Carlos Beltran, who was also ejected.

For the record

Streak: W2

Home: 15-24

Road: 13-25

vs. AL West: 10-14

vs. L.A.: 3-6

vs. Oakland: 3-2

vs. Texas: 4-6

vs. AL East: 8-17

vs. AL Cent.: 4-10

vs. NL: 6-8

vs. LHP: 7-13

vs. RHP: 21-36

Day: 8-17

Night: 20-32

One-run: 8-15

Extra innings: 2-2