SAN FRANCISCO -- New York Mets right-hander David Cone suffered a broken finger on his pitching hand in Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants and will be out 6-8 weeks, the club announced.
Cone, acquired in March from the Kansas City Royals, was attempting to bunt in the top of the fifth inning when he was struck by a pitch thrown by San Francisco's Atlee Hammaker. Cone was taken immediately to Palo Alto Clinic where he was examined.
Cone, a rookie with a 2-2 record and a 4.60 ERA in 10 games, was scheduled to fly back to New York Wednesday night and will be operated on later in the week.
The Mets did not announce a roster move.
Cone is the latest in a rash of injuries and troubles besetting the Mets' pitching staff this season. Just before the start of the season, staff ace Dwight Gooden checked into a drug treatment center for cocaine abuse and is not expected to pitch for New York until early June.
Left-hander Bob Ojeda, an 18-game winner last season, underwent surgery last week for ligament damage to his left elbow and will be lost for the remainder of the season.
Left-hander Sid Fernandez, a 16-game winner in 1986, injured his knee while making a pitch May 15 and missed his next start. Right-hander Rick Aguilera was forced to miss a start Tuesday because of a tight pitching elbow but is not expected to miss his next turn in the rotation.
The only regular starter of last season to avoid physical difficulty this season is Ron Darling, but the right-hander has been hit hard in most of his outings.
Relief ace Roger McDowell missed the first six weeks of the season after undergoing a hernia operation. He did not pitch in his first game until May 14.
Offseason aquisition Gene Walter, expected to fill the void left by McDowell's absence, was ineffective and was subsequently demoted the Tidewater of the Triple-A International League.
