Braves' Prado sent back to Atlanta for dizzy spells

By DAVID O'BRIEN

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

New York — Martin Prado lasted only a half-inning Tuesday night, and now he’s returning to Atlanta for tests to see what’s causing his headaches.

The Braves infielder left Tuesday’s series opener against the Mets after experiencing what was termed “sudden onset headache” in his first-inning at-bat against the Mets.

The Braves don’t know what is wrong with Prado, who has had dizziness and headaches since Saturday. As of Tuesday night, they hadn’t decided whether to put him on the 15-day disabled list or wait until after tests are done in Atlanta.

With the Class AAA Gwinnett team playing in Norfolk, Va., the Braves could get Diory Hernandez or another replacement to New York before Wednesday night’s game, if they decide to go that route. But they don’t want to put Prado on the DL if they believe he could be back soon.

Prado left Saturday’s game against Philadelphia in the fifth inning with what he and the Braves thought was heat-related dizziness and a headache.

When the condition flared again in the indoor batting cage Sunday, he was scratched from the lineup and sent to get a CT scan. It came back negative, and Prado was cleared to play. He drew a pinch-hit walk Sunday night.

He had another headache Monday in Atlanta and was scratched from the lineup for a makeup game against Arizona.

Tuesday in New York, manager Bobby Cox wrote two lineups, one with Prado at first base and one with Adam LaRoche, just in case. (The Braves faced Mets lefty Oliver Perez, who had been particularly tough on lefty hitters, hence Cox’s decision to rest LaRoche and have Prado and Omar Infante in the lineup.)

Prado didn’t feel great in his first round of batting practice Tuesday, but seemed to improve with each round and said he was ready to play.

But during and after his first-inning at-bat, when he popped out foul to first base, TV cameras caught Prado showing obvious signs of dizziness on the field and back in the dugout. LaRoche replaced him in the bottom of the first.

Church answers Manuel’s ‘cheap shot’

When Ryan Church returned to Citi Field on Tuesday for the first time since being traded to the Braves, the outfielder was surrounded by reporters seeking a response to Mets manager Jerry Manuel’s latest perceived jab at Church.

After Mets third baseman David Wright sustained a concussion when hit in the helmet by a pitch Saturday, Manuel said Sunday that Wright would try to get back in the lineup as soon as possible and that Wright was a “different animal” than Church.

Church had two concussions in less than three months last year with the Mets and suffered from dizziness and other post-concussion symptoms that led to two stints on the disabled list and sidelined him for about 10 weeks.

“I could read between the lines, and it did seem like a cheap shot,” Church said of Manuel’s comment. “It is what it is. I’m not going to get into a [spitting] contest. It’s not worth it. I’m trying to make the playoffs [with the Braves]....

“I just find it funny that they’re taking shots now that I’m not in a Mets uniform, but I’ll just take the high road.”

Wright, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list, was one of Church’s closest friends on the Mets and spoke with him or sent text messages several times since Wright was beaned Saturday by San Francisco pitcher Matt Cain’s 94-mph fastball.

Wright told him he had a headache after the incident, but none of the other symptoms that Church had after his second concussion in a May 2008 game at Atlanta, when he slid at second base and his head hit Yunel Escobar’s knee.

Church resented Manuel appearing to compare the head injuries sustained by Wright and Church, when — so far at least — it seems that Church’s situation was significantly worse.