Call against Mets reversed

An apparent inning-ending fly ball double play turned into a run-scoring single, thanks to a rare call reversal by the umpires Saturday in the New York Mets’ game against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta.

The umpires reversed their call after originally ruling Braves center fielder Mark Kotsay caught Jose Reyes’ bases-loaded liner in the fifth inning.

With one out and the Braves leading 4-1, Reyes hit the sinking liner. With Angel Pagan running from second and Ryan Church holding on third base, Kotsay came up with the ball on a diving stop. Pagan already had passed Church on the basepath off third base, and Kotsay threw to catcher Brian McCann, who threw to second base for the force out on Pagan and double play.

Replays showed the ball clearly bounced on the grass.

The umpires finally overruled the call, awarding Reyes a run-scoring single.

•Tom Glavine’s first start against the Mets since his return to Atlanta will have to wait.

The Braves shuffled their rotation, moving John Smoltz to today’s game against Johan Santana and the Mets.

Braves manager Bobby Cox said the switch was made so Smoltz, who opened the season on the disabled list, won’t have to make his first start in the chill of Colorado.

Melvin in no hurry

Arizona manager Bob Melvin is in no hurry to rush Randy Johnson back to the big leagues, especially after Johnson struggled through a rehab start.

Johnson, 44, went four innings and allowed five runs and eight hits in his first start with the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders on Thursday.

“I’ve never been married to a certain date,” Melvin said when asked when Johnson would return to the Diamondbacks. “We’ve forecast certain dates, but if he feels like physically he needs another one then, depending on how many pitches he throws, we can do that as well.”

Clearing the bases

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi missed his second straight game with an upper respiratory infection. … Oakland Athletics right-hander Justin Duchscherer is scheduled to undergo an MRI today after leaving his first start in more than four years with slight biceps tendinitis in his throwing arm. … Right-hander Hideo Nomo took another step toward returning to the major leagues when the Kansas City Royals purchased his contract from their Idaho Falls club.