Ankiel signs with Mets, gets start

The next time Rick Ankiel starts for the New York Mets, he expects to be using his own equipment. It was his glove that he missed the most Monday night.

Ankiel couldn't hang onto pinch-hitter Ty Wigginton's bloop double that started the St. Louis Cardinals' three-run seventh inning in a 6-3 victory over New York. The center fielder blamed it on pitcher Jonathon Niese's glove, which Ankiel borrowed because his own mitt hadn't arrived yet after he signed with the Mets earlier in the day.

''I do think if I have my glove it stays in there,'' Ankiel said. ''I'm the type of person if I get a glove on it, I feel I should have caught it. I didn't. It stinks.''

Mets manager Terry Collins said with a better jump, the glove wouldn't have been a factor.

''You've got Wiggy up there who's got some strength. He takes a full swing, hits it off the end,'' Collins said. ''Rick got a bad read on it right off the bat because he thought it was hit harder, and the ball drops in.''

The 33-year-old Ankiel was 0 for 3 with a walk, two strikeouts and a run scored in his Mets debut. The left-handed hitter is expected to platoon with rookie Juan Lagares in center field and will likely be on the bench Tuesday night against lefty John Gast.

Ankiel settled on Niese's glove after borrowing from reliever Scott Rice for pregame warmups. He used John Buck's bat, but expects his own equipment to arrive Tuesday.

Ankiel made his Mets debut against the team that converted him from wild pitcher to outfielder.

''Do I feel pretty good about it? He walks up there late in the game and I know he has the kind of power to make it a one-run game in a hurry,'' said Cardinals manager and former teammate Mike Matheny. ''I have a lot of respect for Rick and how he's gone about his business and overcome a lot. He's a pretty amazing story.''

Lance Lynn (6-1) improved to 4-0 at home as the Cardinals won for the 10th time in 12 games. Edward Mujica earned his 10th save in 10 chances.

Rice (1-3) took the loss for the Mets, who have dropped four straight.

Ankiel found it a bit comforting that he returned to the majors in St. Louis, where he arrived as a hard-throwing lefty starter in 1999 but couldn't control his pitches. He's been an outfielder since 2005 and hit a career-best 25 homers with 71 RBIs for the Cardinals in 2008.

''Obviously, I've played here in Busch Stadium quite a bit, and it's just kind of ironic the first game back is here in St. Louis,'' he said before the game. ''But it'll be fun and I'm excited to get out there.''

Ankiel, recently cut loose by the last-place Houston Astros, received a smattering of cheers each at-bat.

In other news, the Mets said three days' rest was prescribed for rehabbing reliever Frank Francisco, who had been close to returning to the team before getting scratched from a bullpen session Saturday. Francisco was diagnosed with a mild strain of the flexor pronator in his surgically repaired right elbow.

''I guess you could say it's a mild setback,'' assistant general manager John Ricco said.

Ankiel said he'd been in contact with the Mets the last two days while at home in Fort Pierce, Fla., and acknowledged he wasn't sure he'd get another shot. He hit .194 with five homers and 11 RBIs for Houston, which had signed him to a $750,000, one-year deal. He struck out 35 times in 65 at-bats with the Astros.

''You don't know, you really don't,'' Ankiel said. ''I figured I would, and I was hoping I would and it did.''

Ankiel was designated for assignment by Houston last week and cleared waivers Sunday.

''I thought it was quick but it is what it is,'' Ankiel said. ''I wasn't happy about the inconsistency, but my power was there. But it was early and I hope I get that turned around.''

The Mets have multiple holes in an unproven outfield, and they hope Ankiel's solid defense and left-handed pop will provide an upgrade. The move was somewhat surprising, though, given that New York struck out 28 times in the previous two games and Collins had expressed concern about the lack of contact.

Coming off a 2-4 homestand, the Mets judged Ankiel as an above-average defender with a veteran presence and the best available option.

''Obviously, you'd like to hit on everything,'' Ricco said. ''I think he's going to work with our guys and we have a lot of confidence ... he can cut strikeouts and still provide power.''

Collins thought a fresh start on a new team might click for Ankiel, as it has for Buck. The manager planned on talking to Ankiel about his approach at the plate while pointing out the Mets already have some power in the lineup.

''Maybe a change of scenery right now is good for him and will get him going,'' Collins said. ''Certainly his bat can be dangerous at times, so we're anxious to get him in the lineup. We're hoping he helps us out.''

New York outfielder Andrew Brown was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas and right-hander Jenrry Mejia was transferred to the 60-day disabled list from the 15-day DL to make room on the 40-man roster.

Ankiel arrived at Busch Stadium about 3 1/2 hours before the game and joked about meeting reporters before speaking with Collins.

''Certainly, coming here we don't have to worry about him not knowing the field, that's for sure, ''Collins said. ''Obviously, he's a great defender, we all know that, and if he doesn't have the strongest arm in the league he's got one of the top arms in all of baseball.''

Ankiel was the Cardinals' center fielder in May 2009 when he slammed into a fence at full speed on a running catch and ended up with whiplash and a shoulder injury. Manager Tony La Russa kept Ankiel's hat, bent in half, on a shelf in his office.

Ankiel is among four players in major league history to make at least 40 starts as a pitcher and hit 40 homers, with Babe Ruth the standout of that group.

He's also a .315 hitter against the Mets, much better than his career average of .243.

''Anytime you play against a guy you can't get out, you want him on your team,'' Collins said. ''We can't get him out, never could.''