Mets Call Up Alomar Jr.

Jason Vargas' uninspiring performance in Tuesday's rout, coupled with the fact that Paul Lo Duca's appeal hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, prompted the Mets to purchase the contract of Sandy Alomar Jr. from Triple-A New Orleans before last night's game and option Vargas back to the Zephyrs. Lo Duca received a two-game suspension for heaving his catcher's equipment onto the field during a June 23 game against the Athletics but has been waiting since then for a hearing date. In past years, players had to visit Major League Baseball's Manhattan headquarters in person, but Lo Duca will have his done by videophone in Houston.