NEW YORK - Though nobody would say so directly, shortstop Barry Larkin likely will be sidelined until at least Tuesday with his mildly strained left wrist.

        Larkin, who didn't play Saturday, said his wrist still felt sore. He injured himself while rolling over as he tried to field Tsuyoshi Shinjo's sharp one-hopper. If Larkin were to rest again today, he'd have three consecutive off days before Cincinnati's next scheduled game Tuesday.

        Larkin underwent ultrasound treatment, electronic stimulation, light stretching and contrasting hot-and-cold applications. “The usual stuff,” trainer Greg Lynn said.

        Lynn explained that Larkin, who was hitting a team-high .378, “compressed the nerve which initially made it unable for him to effectively grab the bat. In a relatively short amount of time that ability should be regained.”

        Boone doesn't want Larkin's injury to disrupt his groove at the plate.

        “I've played with that sort of thing before and it's not real fun,” Boone said. “It takes your swing away pretty good. All of a sudden you try to help with your legs and you get out of whack. I'm probably more concerned about that than anything, especially the way he's been swinging.”

        CASEY SITS: With left-hander Al Leiter starting for New York, Boone decided to rest first baseman Sean Casey, a left-handed batter, for the first time this year.

        Casey was hitting .341 overall but just .182 (2-for-11) with three strikeouts against Leiter.

        “I wanted to try to give him a day off and this seemed like a pretty good time,” Boone said with a laugh. “He didn't fight me over it.”

        Casey appreciated being told by Boone on Friday night that he would sit. “At least it was nice to know in advance,” he said.

        Boone said he'll try to do this, since he welcomed knowing his playing status ahead of time during his catching career.

        “You rest easier,” he said. “It's rest you're trying to accomplish. I'd like to do it all the time. The only drawback to that is sometimes you'll think about other things overnight.”

        TURNING POINT: Leiter's wild pitch, which he threw on a 1-2 count to Dmitri Young, moved Donnie Sadler and Pokey Reese into scoring position and set up the Reds' only run. The pitch was catchable, leading Mets catcher Mike Piazza to confirm that he and Leiter got their signals crossed.

        “We had a discrepancy there,” Piazza said. “He felt like I changed the sign; I don't think I did.”

        CROWD COUNT: The paid attendance of 55,067 at Shea Stadium represented the Mets' biggest Saturday afternoon crowd in history, eclipsing the 54,424 that Houston drew on May 30, 1970. Though it was technically a sellout, empty seats were sprinkled throughout each section.

        UP NEXT: Brower will confront Mets right-hander Kevin Appier (1-0), who was Boone's staff ace when both were with Kansas City.
       

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