said. It was totally by mistake. I just didnt want to fight him.I put my hands down, loose rein, and he relaxed really well, Velazquez added. I was where I wanted to be, and when I

NEW YORK -- Mets second baseman Neil Walker will miss the rest of the season because of surgery for a herniated disk in his back, the latest in a series of severe injuries to strike the defending NL champions this year. Curtis McClinton Jersey .Walker made the announcement Thursday before the wild-card contenders played Miami.It just wasnt getting better, he said.Had he continued to play, he estimated he wouldve been at 60 percent. Or, as New York manager Terry Collins said Walker told him Wednesday night, Not sure I can help.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 in his first season with the Mets, tying a career high with 23 home runs while batting .282 with 55 RBI. Collins often has praised Walker for his production on the field and his leadership qualities in the clubhouse.Walk gave it his best effort, Collins said, later adding, Neils played absolutely great.The switch-hitter, who turns 31 this month, 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 after the procedure.No date has yet been set for the surgery.Traded over from Pittsburgh in the offseason, Walker proved to be more than a capable replacement for playoff star Daniel Murphy, who became a free agent and has produced MVP-caliber numbers for NL East-leading Washington.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 clubs young pitchers also have missed time.Though the Mets have adjusted to a shifting roster, Walkers absence leaves a big piece missing, Collins said.Walker had been trying to rest his ailing back lately, playing a few games and then taking time off. He had played just four times in the last two weeks, which included a brief stay on the paternity list.Even so, Walker said doctors told him his condition wasnt improving that way.Walker said he felt OK to swing, but that it was the other things -- diving for balls, sliding, trying to break up double plays -- that had become extremely difficult. He said the back problem has left him unable to have feeling in his toe.No one thing caused him the trouble, he said. Instead, the cause was the culmination of the wear and tear of baseball.Ive played through this for four years, he said.Walker is eligible for free agency after this season ends. He said that aspect of his future didnt enter into his decision, saying it was the farthest thing from my mind.Said Collins: I sure hope we get the opportunity to get him back. Cheap Chiefs Jerseys . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. Eric Fisher Jersey . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. http://www.customchiefsjersey.com/custom...arge-1316n.html . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. ELMONT, N.Y. -- Its a jockeys natural instinct to take a hold of a horse when he wants to slow him down. But when John Velazquez took a hold of Giant Run in the early stages of Mondays $100,000 Manila Stakes at Belmont Park, the 3-year-old colt wanted to run off.So, Velazquez did the opposite of what he knew to do and let the reins go in hopes Giant Run would become less aggressive. The move worked as Giant Run did relax early on and had something in reserve when Velazquez called on him later to record a 1-1/2-length victory in the Manila.Strike Midnight finished second by three-quarters of a length over Rappel. They were followed by Life Imitates Art, Conquest See Ya, the pacesetting Too Discreet, and Dig Deep.The Manila was part of a four-win day for Velazquez, who also took the days co-feature, the $100,000 State Dinner Stakes, on Comfort ($6.40).Velazquez was riding Giant Run for the first time. He knew the horse had speed, but he also knew Too Discreet, who was drawn to Giant Runs inside, had more early speed.I didnt want to be head-and-head with him, Velazquez said.Though Giant Run broke on top, Too Discreet quickly assumed the front under Joel Rosario. Giant Run attempted to go with Too Discreet early before Velazquez changed tactics.I tried to grab him, and he run off for about five jumps, aand I let the reins go, and he relaxed. Dorian ODaniel Jersey. . It was the complete opposite, Velazquez said. It was totally by mistake. I just didnt want to fight him.I put my hands down, loose rein, and he relaxed really well, Velazquez added. I was where I wanted to be, and when I asked him, he responded.Giant Run tracked Too Discreet through fractions of 22.82 seconds, 45.99, and 1:09.87. Giant Run took the lead in upper stretch and then ran away from Strike Midnight, who came up to challenge at the eighth pole.Giant Run, a son of Giants Causeway owned by William Mack and Robert Baker and trained by Tom Albertrani, covered the mile in 1:32.85 and returned $16 as the fifth choice in the seven-horse field.Albertrani was happy to see Giant Run be effective sitting off another horse.I didnt think he had to be on the lead; he was ratable enough where he was comfortable, Albertrani said.Albertrani is not sure how far Giant Run will run. The next middle-distance turf stakes for 3-year-olds on this circuit is the Grade 3, $200,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at Saratoga on Aug. 5 at 1-1/16 miles.I dont know how far hell go. I think a mile suits him well, Albertrani said. ' ' '