NEW YORK -- The Mets are hopeful Francisco Alvarez , already playing with a broken pinkie on his left hand and a torn UCL in his right thumb, dodged another injury Tuesday night when the catcher was hit by a pitch on his upper left arm.

Alvarez appeared to be in serious pain after getting drilled by a 100 mph fastball from San Diego Padres rookie right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez in the eighth inning of the Mets' 8-3 victory . The 23-year-old bent down behind home plate and clutched his left arm as he slowly walked up the first-base line with manager Carlos Mendoza and an athletic trainer.

Alvarez was lifted for pinch-runner Hayden Senger but appeared on the Mets' bench minutes later, smiling and sporting a large wrap around his left arm. He later joined the handshake line foll

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