Major league notes

METS

Walker plans surgery

NEW YORK -- Mets second baseman Neil Walker said he will have surgery for a herniated disk in his back and will miss the rest of the season.

Walker made the announcement before New York played Miami on Thursday night.

Minus Walker, the Mets will use Wilmer Flores and Kelly Johnson at second base. A recent push moved the Mets within 1 1/2 games of St. Louis for the second NL wild-card spot.

Walker has been a steady presence for the NL wild-card contenders all season, batting .282 with 23 home runs and 55 RBI. Manager Terry Collins often has praised Walker for his production on the field and his leadership qualities in the clubhouse.

The 30-year-old switch-hitter said the success rate for his type of surgery is "very high" and that the recovery period is three months. He said he expects to be able to continue his career at a fine level.

No date has been set for the surgery.

Walker has been trying to rest his ailing back lately, playing a few games and then taking time off. He said doctors told him that his condition wasn't getting any better that way.

Walker was traded from Pittsburgh to the Mets in the offseason. He is eligible for free agency after this season ends.

The defending NL champions have been hit by a series of injuries throughout this season.

Walker joined third baseman David Wright, first baseman Lucas Duda, ace Matt Harvey and other Mets to be struck by significant injuries this year. Slugger Yoenis Cespedes, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and several of the club's young pitchers also have missed time.

Though the Mets have adjusted to a shifting roster all season, Walker's absence leaves "a big piece missing," Collins said.

ANGELS

Trout in auto accident

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout was not hurt after being involved in a car crash following a game Wednesday night.

The Orange County Register reported Trout was in one of four vehicles involved in two connected crashes on the 55 freeway shortly before 9 p.m. One victim was taken to Hoag Hospital and another to Orange County Global Medical Center, Capt. Larry Kurtz told the newspaper. It was unclear if either victim was Trout.

Angels General Manager Billy Eppler confirmed the report and said in a statement that he spoke to Trout and "he feels fine." Eppler said Trout was at home and planned to travel with the team to Seattle.

Trout did not play in Los Angeles' 3-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The 2014 AL MVP Award winner is batting .319 with 25 home runs and 21 stolen bases this season.

RANGERS

Gomez meets old team

ARLINGTON, Texas -- For a week, Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez blocked out any thoughts that he would soon face the club that released him in August.

That reunion arrives on Friday, when the Rangers open a three-game series against Houston at Globe Life Park.

Gomez said he has "no hard feelings" toward the Astros and blamed himself for his failings with them. Gomez will not approach the games as a chance to make his former employer look bad.

"If you look at it that it's the team that released you, you're so stressed that it's hard to perform and work like that," Gomez said.

In parts of two seasons with Houston, Gomez hit .221 with 9 home runs, 42 RBI and a .619 OPS. In seven games with the Rangers, Gomez has continued to make inconsistent contact and is batting .160 with a .592 and 12 strikeouts in 25 at-bats.

The difference is in the record.

The Astros were 59-60 in Gomez' starts. The Rangers are 6-1 in Gomez' starts, and he has directly impacted three victories with a multi-run home run in two games and two top-rank catches in a third.

"You go 0-for-4 with strikeouts, and you feel like it's 4-for-4 with all the positive energy," Gomez said of his time with the Rangers. "Everybody comes to you like you're the best. That makes this team extremely good."

The Astros are in the rare position of paying an opposing player. The Rangers will pay $108,750 to Gomez for his time with the club this season, and he will receive $2.058 million from the Astros in the same span.

Sports on 09/02/2016

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