Mets outfielder Carlos Gomez was called up from Triple-A New Orleans today when righthander Mike Pelfrey was sent down. Gomez, a natural center fielder, started in right for the Mets.

The 21-year-old Gomez, who at this time two years ago was in low Class A, hit .286/.363/.414 with two homers and 17 steals (in 21 attempts) for the Zephyrs. Gomez collected hits in his first 14 Triple-A games this season, and had shown impressive command of the strike zone early, drawing 15 walks against 23 strikeouts.

Pelfrey struggled mightily to establish his pitches in the majors, going 0-5, 6.53 with more walks (17) than strikeouts (13) in 30 1/3 innings, and a demotion seemed all but inevitable. Despite a strong spring training, the 23-year-old Pelfrey, the ninth overall pick out of Wichita State in 2005, showed below-average command of all his pitches, including even his mid-90s sinker, his bread-and-butter offering.

Outfielder Moises Alou’s early exit from Saturday’s game because of a pulled left quad prompted the Mets to recall Gomez, as New Orleans outfielders Lastings Milledge and Ben Johnson were both on the disabled list.

UPDATE: Gomez doubled and scored in his first big league at-bat, then singled to the opposite field, stole a base and scored in his fourth.