MLB Notes: Mets’ Murphy returns to lineup after birth of son

Daniel Murphy is proud he put fatherhood ahead of baseball, and New York Mets manager Terry Collins thinks criticism his second baseman received for taking paternity leave this week was unfair.

Murphy made his season debut Thursday, three days after the birth of son Noah. He called staying in Florida an extra day “the right decision to make” following wife Victoria’s cesarean section and said “we felt the best thing for our family was for me to stay.”

He learned Sunday that his wife’s water broke, then traveled to Florida and missed Monday’s 9-7 opening loss to Washington and Wednesday night’s 5-1 defeat. He said his son was born at 12:02 p.m. Monday.

Major league rules allow up to three days of paternity leave, and WFAN broadcaster Mike Francesa said on the air Wednesday that Murphy should not have skipped the second game.

A day later, Collins bristled after learning of the comments.

Murphy said he received text messages about the criticism. He was applauded before his first at-bat, singled and scored the Mets’ first run against the Nationals.

Ortiz, Pedroia top MLB jersey-sales

David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia keep winning.

Red Sox stars have had the best-selling jerseys in Major League Baseball since Boston won the World Series in October.

No. 3 on the list released was Yankees captain Derek Jeter. His jersey has been the top seller since he announced Feb. 12 this would be his final season.

Yadier Molina, Clayton Kershaw, Andrew McCutchen, Buster Posey, David Wright, Robinson Cano and Manny Machado round out the top 10. Cano’s sales are combined for his Yankees and Mariners jerseys after he signed with Seattle.

Rays’ Myers out with flu-like symptoms

Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Wil Myers was scratched from the starting lineup because of flu-like symptoms.

Also, the Rays placed infielder-outfielder Sean Rodriguez on the paternity leave list and recalled infielder Vince Belnome from Triple-A Durham.

Nats’ Zimmerman scratched

Washington Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann was scratched from his scheduled start against the New York Mets because of flu-like symptoms.

Tanner Roark took over as the starting pitcher for Thursday’s finale of the opening three-game series. He had been slated to start Washington’s home opener today against Atlanta.