Jay Bruce was thrown into the fire Thursday night.
With Lucas Duda unavailable after leaving Wednesday’s game with a hyperextended left elbow, the veteran outfielder Bruce was inserted as the first baseman in the Mets’ 6-4 loss to the Phillies at Citi Field.
Bruce later indicated he expects to remain at the position for at least another day or two as the Mets await word on Duda and Wilmer Flores (knee infection).
Bruce was charged with a throwing error that led to an unearned run in the second inning, but Noah Syndergaard was late breaking to cover first base on the play, leading to a miscommunication as Neil Walker also converged on the base.
“It went OK,” Bruce said of his fourth career appearance at the position and first since 2014. “Kind of what I found out is fielding the ball is the easiest part of the whole thing.”
Duda underwent testing on the elbow, according to Mets manager Terry Collins, but how long he will be sidelined is still unclear. The injury occurred during a collision at first base.
Bruce played a Grapefruit League game at first base last month and has sporadically taken ground balls at the position.
“It’s going to be a learn-as-I go type of thing,” Bruce said.
Flores was unavailable because of a knee infection that could keep him sidelined for an additional day or two, according to Collins. Flores has begun taking an antibiotic, but the Mets were left without a backup infielder.
Collins said he would use Juan Lagares at shortstop if needed. Lagares began his minor league career in the infield.
David Wright was shifted to the 60-day disabled list to give the Mets flexibility with the 40-man roster.
The move ensures that Wright will not rejoin the Mets before early June, in a best-case scenario. Wright recently resumed baseball activities after missing most of spring training with a shoulder impingement following surgery last June for a herniated disk in his neck.
Kevin Plawecki was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to give the Mets depth at catcher with Travis d’Arnaud’s hand sore from a night earlier when he clipped a bat on a throw to second base.