If you were one of those who registered to purchase Opening Day tickets but were not chosen, here’s a second chance. The Mets are offering five-game packs of tickets, which include a ticket to Opening Day. The other four tickets are for games in April and May. Prices vary.

Go here to find out the available dates and more information.

Starter Mike Pelfrey was cruising along, having only given up one run in the third when it all started to unravel in the fifth inning. He gave up a homer to “Pudge” Rodriguez and followed it by allowing five more runs in the frame. One of them came when Michael Bourn singled and came home on an error by Bobby Kielty in right field.

Pelfrey, who now has a 5.09 ERA in the spring, was battered for 10 hits, six runs and a walk and couldn’t finish the fifth. The Astros tacked on another run in the sixth off of Fernando Nieve.

With only one projected starter in the lineup, other than Pelfrey, the Mets’ bats went quiet, only managing to muster four hits. Even Daniel Murphy had an 0-fer. The Astros helped themselves out by turning four double plays.

Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran and Brian Schneider are expected to suit up Wednesday for their game against the Tigers at 1:10 p.m. That game will be televised on SNY and the MLB Network.

It’s looking like the Mets’ rotation could be Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, Oliver Perez and Livan Hernandez.

Hernandez, who went 13-11 with a 6.05 ERA last year between Minnesota and Colorado, pitched five solid innings in a minor-league game Monday, allowing a run and five hits with seven strikeouts.

Check out his career stats at “baseballreference.com”:http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hernali01.shtml

MLB.com’s Marty Noble reports that Mets skipper Jerry Manuel is contemplating placing left fielder Daniel Murphy in the No. 2 hole, which would relegate the resurgent Luis Castillo to the eight hole in the batting order.

Manuel’s rationale is that he likes Murphy’s hitting so much, it would be a shame not to have him hitting in the ninth inning when game-winning hits and runs are on the line. He says Murphy is improving defensively, even though Murphy himself admits to awkwardness as an outfielder.

Of course, Manuel has been known to play around with the batting order to get players motivated, as he did with Jose Reyes when it was suggested that Reyes be moved to the No. 3 hole. But Castillo has seemed reinvigorated lately in speed and offense and, from all outside appearances, doesn’t look like he needs the motivation right now.

Also, The Hartford Courant has this story about how Murphy is trying to improve his defense.

So, is Manuel really considering this or continuing to play with his players’ minds? Would you rather see Murphy batting second and Castillo eighth or do you think Castillo is better off as a No. 2?

Other notes: Left-handed reliever Tom Martin, who had sustained a couple of injuries, was released Sunday. RHP Brandon Knight was sent assigned to Triple-A Buffalo.

The Mets turned the tables on the Braves today, putting up a 12-spot against the team that did the same to them a day before. This time, it was Johan Santana on the mound, and he was his usual self, allowing only one run, off a homer, on two hits in five innings.

Dillon Gee, Michael Antonini, Pedro Feliciano and Sean Green finished out the game, scattering two hits in four scoreless innings.

The Mets’ bats also were hot, but mostly against the Braves’ relievers. Jeremy Reed, who was 4-for-5 with four RBI, Fernando Tatis, who was 2-for-4 with three RBI, and Omir Santos, who hit a three-run homer, all contributed to a nine-run seventh inning.

The Mets next travel to Kissimmee to take on the Astros at 1:05 p.m. Tuesday. Mike Pelfrey is scheduled to take the mound.

Starter John Maine had another rough outing, allowing five runs in four innings. In his past three starts, Maine is giving up an average of 4.67 runs per game. His ERA has skyrocketed to 10.38 in his four spring starts.

Fernando Nieve and Roy Merritt combined for two scoreless innings. But Ron Villone gave up two runs in a frame and Nelson Figueroa gave up five more in his inning of work.

Meanwhile, former Met Tom Glavine pitched a scoreless three innings in his first start.

Run production was almost as bad as the pitching. The Mets eked out one run in the seventh off of Bobby Kielty’s single, one of his three hits, after Nick Evans led off the inning with a triple. Ryan Church’s two hits on three at-bats were the only other offensive high point.

WCBS NewsRadio 880 took some nice aerial pictures of CitiField today. Check out their gallery here.

Photo: Tom Kaminski, WCBS NewsRadio 880

It was another great game for Mets pitching, especially for starter Oliver Perez who pitched three scoreless innings in his Grapefruit League return today. Ollie only gave up a hit and two walks. Of course, those who know his pitching past will wait to see how he does when he starts going five and six innings at a time, when he typically starts falling apart.

Bobby Parnell scattered five hits in his 2 2/3 innings but gave up no runs. Relievers Darren O’Day, Brian Stokes and Elmer Dessens finished out the game and didn’t give up any runs.

At the plate, Daniel Murphy kept his bat hot, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. First baseman Ike Davis also went 2-for-4, with a double and an RBI.

The Mets next travel to play the Braves at 1:05 p.m. Saturday. John Maine will start against old friend and nemesis Tom Glavine.

Well, the competition for the fifth starter position seems all but over after the Mets sent Jonathon Niese to the minors today after he posted a 6.75 ERA in three Spring Training outings. Niese will start for Triple-A Buffalo.

With Tim Redding out indefinitely and Freddy Garcia being completely ineffectual, Livan Hernandez, who has pitched well and has a 3.07 ERA, seems to have the job all wrapped up.

Meanwhile, the Mets also sent down catcher Robinson Cancel and right-hander Connor Robertson. Kyle Snyder and Matt DeSalvo, both righties, and left-handers Jon Switzer, Heriberto Ruelas and Casey Fossum were reassigned to Minor League camp, according to Mets.com.

Mike Pelfrey looked sharp as a tack as he pitched six innings, allowing only one run in a rout of the Houston Astros. Pelfrey retired the first 13 batters before giving up a single, a double and a walk in the fifth inning.

Relievers Carlos Muniz, Fernando Nieve and Sean Green finished the game out with a combined three innings of shut-out ball. The Astros didn’t help themselves any by committing four errors.

The Mets were just as hot at the plate. Short stop Jose Reyes had two doubles, bringing in a combined four runs. Nick Evans continued giving Mets management reasons to keep him on the roster by belting his third home run on top of two doubles. Fernando Tatis finished out the doubles parade with one of his own, bringing home two more runs.

The Mets next take on the Orioles at 1:05 p.m. Friday in Fort Lauderdale.

Catcher Brian Schneider is hobbled with a sore knee. According to Mets.com, Schneider got an MRI, which showed “a strain of the posterior capsule of the right knee.” It is unknown when he’ll be able to resume catching duties.

David Wright cracked a toenail after fouling a ball off in the World Baseball Classic semifinal seeding game vs. Venezeula on Wednesday night. It’s caused a great deal of discomfort but Wright says he’s fine to continue playing.

As Oliver Perez prepares to pitch against the Orioles on Friday, he admitted to feeling a little gassed while playing for Mexico in his team’s loss to the Koreans in the WBC. Perez gave up five home runs in the two games he pitched in and had a 9.45 ERA.

Mets.com has a very nice article about outfielder Daniel Murphy’s ascendancy to the majors. Skipper Jerry Manuel praises Murphy’s patience at the plate and the fact that it seems like he’s a student of the game.

The article talks about Murphy’s college days and how he lives and breathes baseball, especially hitting. Fellow teammates comment on his determination.

Read the entire article here.

Is it safe to pencil in Livan Hernandez as the Mets fifth starter? He sure made a case for it as he pitched five innings, giving up five hits and only one run today vs. the Atlanta Braves.

Freddy Garcia didn’t help his chances any by following Hernandez with an awful outing. He pitched only two innings but gave up a whopping seven hits and five runs. His spring ERA has ballooned to 16.71.

Another important note was the return of Jose Reyes who had a hit and run on four at-bats. Half of the Mets lineup consisted of projected starters: second baseman Luis Castillo, who had a hit and walk; Daniel Murphy in left field; Ryan Church in right field; and Hernandez on the mound.

Meanwhile, Fernando Tatis had his second home run of Spring Training, plating two. Andy Green followed suit with his own two-run homer. The former Arizona Diamondback made the most of his only at-bat after he subbed in for Castillo.

The Mets next take on the Astros at 1:10 p.m. Thursday. Mike Pelfrey will take the mound, followed by Brian Stokes.

It was a big night for Mets players in the World Baseball Classic on both the U.S. and Puerto Rican teams, but only some of them will be continuing.

David Wright was the hero of the night when his ninth-inning single scored two runs to defeat Team Puerto Rico 6-5 after the U.S. team trailed 5-3 in the World Baseball Classic. Wright was 3-for-4 at the plate and helped to manufacture a run by stealing a base and escaping a tag-out at home plate.

Wright wasn’t the only Team USA member to contribute. Mets set-up man J.J. Putz pitched a scoreless inning, striking out two.

On the other hand, or team, the two Carloses, Beltran and Delgado, also had huge contributions. Beltran robbed Brian McCann of a home run, and Delgado hit a two-run homer to tie the game at 3-3 in the fourth.

Mets pitchers Nelson Figueroa and Pedro Feliciano combined for three scoreless innings for Puerto Rico. But it wasn’t enough and it’s a sure bet that the Carloses, Figueroa and Feliciano will be headed back to Port St. Lucie and the Mets.

Team USA next plays a semifinals seeding game vs. Venezuela on Wednesday night.

So, do you think the WBC is a worthwhile competition of national pride and excitement or do you think it’s not worth the potential injury it can cause to players such as Dustin Pedroia, Chipper Jones and Matt Lindstrom?

The Mets succumbed to the Grapefruit League’s No. 1 team as the Braves scored two runs off of starter Jonathon Niese, who went four innings, and two runs off of Casey Fossum in two-thirds of an inning in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Niese had three walks and three strikeouts and gave up a home run. Brian Stokes and Bobby Parnell combined for two scoreless innings, while Darren O’Day was tagged for a run in 1 1/3.

On the offensive front, Daniel Murphy continues to amaze with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, including a double, raising his average to .400 for the spring. Meanwhile, Ryan Church hit his first home run of Spring Training and drove in the only run.

Spring Training wunderkind Nick Evans had a rougher day at the plate as he went 0-for-4, had two strike outs and and left three men on base.

The 7-9-1 Mets next host the Braves in St. Port Lucie, Fla., at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday.