Piazza hits homer in rehab assignment

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- Mike Piazza homered in his first game of a rehabilitation assignment, connecting for a two-run shot Thursday night for Triple-A Norfolk in a 9-6 loss to Charlotte.
The New York Mets put the All-Star catcher on the 15-day disabled list May 17 because of a severely strained right groin.
Piazza went 1-for-4 with a walk and scored two runs as the designated hitter. He struck out twice, then homered in the ninth inning.
"After three months, this feels like the first game of spring training," Piazza said.
Piazza walked his first time up, moved to second on a bloop single and scored on a bases-loaded triple by Matt Watson.
Piazza said his injured groin did not cause him any trouble on the bases.
"I'm glad to get on base and at least test it," he said. "Even though it feels good and I'm running, there's still a bit of tightness from lack of use."
Piazza is expected to catch four or five innings today and catch six or seven innings Saturday.