Mets place OF Alou on DL

May 22, 2008 - 11:14 PM ATLANTA (Ticker) - The New York Mets placed left fielder Moises Alou on the 15-day disabled list prior to Thursday's game against the Atlanta Braves.

Alou, 41, left Wednesday's 11-4 loss to the Braves in the middle of the third inning with a strained left calf.

Alou said that he initially felt tightness in the calf area during New York's "Subway Series" against the cross-town rival Yankees last weekend.

The injury flared up while Alou was walking out to the field. Rather than risk further injury, Alou elected to leave the game.

It is the latest setback for Alou, who missed the first 26 games of the season while recovering from hernia surgery.

Alou also missed 2 1/2 months of last season with a strained quadriceps, a year in which he batted .341 with 13 home runs and 49 RBI in 87 games with the Mets.

Alou is hitting .340 (16-for-47) with seven RBI in 14 games this season.

In a corresponding move, the Mets purchased the contract of catcher Raul Casanova from Class AAA New Orleans.