How many pitchers have pinch-hit the same day they were slated to start?

Good question, but New York Mets left-hander Jonathon Niese is one of them.

Niese hit his first-career triple in the 11th inning on Monday night -- really Tuesday morning -- but was stranded on third base after shortstop Jose Reyes struck out to end a wild and crazy 3-hour, 31-minute affair at Citi Field. The Mets lost the game to the Florida Marlins by a 2-1 final.

“Terry just told me there was two outs, just put a nice easy swing on it. Don’t try to kill it,” said Niese, who was became the Mets’ first pitcher to pinch-hit since he did it last season on April 17. He also became the first Mets’ pitcher to record a pinch-hit since Brian Bohanon singled off Montreal Expos reliever Mel Rojas on Sept. 12, 1997.

“I figured I was gonna get a 3-2 fastball and just put a good swing on it.”

He did, although it looked like Marlins center fielder Emilio Bonifacio was going to catch it -- until he couldn’t.

“As far as going for three, I just wasn’t thinking,” said Niese (2-4, 5.03 ERA), who will get the ball for the Mets on Tuesday night against the same Marlins’ club. “When I was on second I saw the ball on the ground, so I just tried for it.”

He made it, too. He just didn’t score.