HOUSTON -- The Mets received word late Saturday that X-rays on Carlos Beltran were negative, hours after their center fielder had injured his left knee crashing into a chain-link fence in left-center field at Minute Maid Park

Beltran, the team's primary candidate for the Most Valuable Player award, was taken to a local hospital for additional examination, and he was diagnosed with a bruised left knee and he's listed as day-to-day. Before leaving for the hospital, he limped conspicuously as he left the clubhouse after saying he couldn't bear weight on his left leg.

At the time, the club wasn't particularly concerned about his condition after a doctor, Warren Kadrmas, who had worked with the team in Spring Training, examined Beltran and said he found no significant damage.

"We think he just has a bad bruise," manager Willie Randolph had said.

And Beltran, who said he felt little pain, said the swelling above the knee made it impossible to bend or straighten the leg normally. He kidded with teammates and reporters before his departure, comparing the immediate aftermath of his crash into the fence to his sickening collision with Mike Cameron last summer.

"Then I didn't know where I was," he said. "This time I knew where I was. When I heard the booing, I knew I was in Houston."

A minority within the crowd of 43,218 had jeered the former Astro as he was helped from the field by trainer Ray Ramirez in the ninth inning.

Beltran had made a magnificent, leaping catch, a catch with apparent game-saving implications, taking a score-tying hit away from his former teammate, Lance Berkman. Moments after Beltran left the game, closer Billy Wagner secured the Mets' 4-2 victory.

"You play to win," Beltran said. "We wanted to win the series and now he have. I feel good about that."