After long wait, Reyes finally plays

The Mets’ long wait for Jose Reyes ended Saturday when New York activated its second baseman following three months of injuries.

Reyes arrived at Shea Stadium at 1 p.m., 6 hours before the first pitch.

“It’s like old times,” Reyes said as he looked around the clubhouse. “I am so happy to get here.”

Reyes’ troubles began when he strained his right hamstring in a spring training game March 14. His rehabilitation was painstakingly slow, and he had several setbacks.

Finally, the Mets hired hamstring experts to alter Reyes’ running style. After that, back pain kept him out.

All that was forgotten Saturday.

After missing the first 66 games of the season, Reyes was in the middle of the Mets’ two key rallies.

Reyes was hitless in his first three at-bats, striking out twice.

But he drove in a run in the eighth on a grounder, and when the ball squirted past second baseman Omar Infante for an error, Reyes hustled to second. He advanced on a fly ball and scored on Cliff Floyd’s two-out single to tie the game at 3.

With one out in the 10th, Reyes tripled to right-center. Two intentional walks loaded the bases, and Reyes was forced at the plate on pinch-hitter Shane Spencer’s grounder, before Mike Cameron singled to win it.

Rivera homers twice in one inning

Expos right fielder Juan Rivera homered twice and drove in six runs in one inning against the White Sox.

Rivera hit a two-run shot and his first career grand slam in the second inning, both off Arnie Munoz.

The grand slam came with two outs and gave the Expos a 10-1 lead. It was their first slam this season.

Rivera became the first major league player to hit two homers in one inning since Pittsburgh’s Reggie Sanders last Aug. 20.

It was the fifth time a Montreal player has hit two homers in the same inning, and first since Mike Lansing did it in the sixth inning of a 19-3 win in San Francisco on May 7, 1997.

Group looks to bring Expos to Puerto Rico

A group hoping to permanently bring the Montreal Expos to Puerto Rico submitted a bid to buy the team.

Miami attorney Scott Shapiro said he sent the group’s proposal to baseball commissioner Bud Selig on Friday, though the new proposal probably comes too late for baseball to give it much consideration.

Around the horn

Giants closer Robb Nen was sent home for another month to rest his injured right shoulder. … Gabe White was traded by the Yankees to the Reds Friday for a minor leaguer, a player to be named and cash. … Indians pitcher Cliff Lee was suspended for six games for throwing behind Ken Griffey Jr.’s head last Sunday. … Orioles left fielder B.J. Surhoff was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left calf. … The Cubs activated second baseman Mark Grudzielanek from the 15-day disabled and batted him leadoff, where he went 1 for 4 in Chicago’s win. … Braves center fielder Andruw Jones twisted his left knee in batting practice and was held out of the starting lineup in Atlanta’s win over Cleveland.