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Timo time Bell sidelined for postseason with severe ankle strain
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mets outfielder Derek Bell will miss the rest of the postseason after spraining his ankle in Game 1 of New York's NL playoff series against San Francisco. Bell, who hurt himself Wednesday, had an MRI exam Friday that revealed a high ankle sprain. Mets manager Bobby Valentine said such injuries usually take 3-to-6 weeks for recovery. "It's rather major in its severity," Valentine said. "He's not allowed to bear weight on the ankle for quite a while, so there's no chance of him playing the rest of the postseason." Bell cannot be replaced on the playoff roster until the next series. Rookie Timo Perez, who played well in place of Bell during Thursday night's 5-4, 10-inning win, along with Darryl Hamilton and Bubba Trammell will also fill in. "Derek had a lot of experience that will be missed when we play Timo or Bubba," Valentine said. "Darryl has similar or more experience than Derek, but it will be a new-look lineup." The best-of-five series is tied at 1. Game 3 is Saturday at New York. Bell, who has been hurt several times this year, slipped and fell on the grass at Pacific Bell Park when Barry Bonds' triple ricocheted off a wall and went past him in right field. Bell limped over to the ball before crumpling to the ground, and hobbled off the field later in the inning during the Mets' 5-1 loss. In his first year with the Mets, Bell hit .266 with 18 homers and 69 RBIs. Perez has become a sparkplug for the Mets recently. He hit a key two-run single in Game 2 and also had a bunt single on a 3-2 count. "I can tell you that he is like another Melvin Mora -- he's Mr. October," outfielder Benny Agbayani said of Perez. "He's very versatile and he brings a real spark to our lineup."
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