TORONTO — Terry Collins didn’t need to see a replay to know second-base umpire Brian Knight blew the call.

From the first-base dugout at Rogers Centre, the Mets manager had a clear enough view in the ninth inning to know Yunel Escobar never applied the tag as Mike Baxter attempted to stretch a single into a double. Baxter was called out, all but killing the Mets’ comeback hopes in a 2-0 loss to the Blue Jays.

Collins argued the call, but didn’t get very far.

“[Knight] said he thought [Escobar] tagged him on the back,” Collins said. “I said if he didn’t have a good view of it to ask [for help], but he said he couldn’t, so that was it. I had no argument.”

Baxter was apologetic afterward for his emotional outburst after getting called out, but said there was no question he was safe.

“I’m not trying to show anybody up, but I definitely got caught up in the moment,” Baxter said. “Where [Knight] was standing was what he saw. That is the reality of the game. They are not robots.”

Brandon Morrow then retired Daniel Murphy for the final out, leaving Scott Hairston at third.

“We’ve lost a lot of games in exactly the same manner where the other team starts banging out hits,” Collins said. “I know Brandon pitched a tremendous game, but that’s a tough one to lose.”

* David Wright, who is battling flu-like symptoms and did not play, told Collins he expects to be ready for today’s series finale. Wright was scheduled to have yesterday off anyway, but would have been available to pinch-hit if healthy.

* Chris Schwinden will be at Rogers Centre today as a potential roster replacement should the Mets place Miguel Batista on the disabled list. Jordany Valdespin was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo yesterday to create roster space for Jeremy Hefner.

The move left the Mets with a short bench, but Collins said another position player will arrive for tomorrow’s game in Pittsburgh.

* Ruben Tejada (quadriceps) has begun running in a straight line and could start playing minor league rehab games by tomorrow. Jason Bay (fractured rib) may start taking batting practice tomorrow before heading to Port St. Lucie.

* Jenrry Mejia pitched three innings for Double-A Binghamton against Portland, allowing one earned run on six hits and no walks.

The righty, who is returning from Tommy John surgery, remains on the Mets’ radar for a bullpen or starting job this season.

mpuma@nypost.com

Terry Collins, Collins, Mike Baxter, Brian Knight, Yunel Escobar, Rogers Centre, Rogers Centre, Mets, Brandon Morrow, the Mets, the Mets, David Wright, Scott Hairston, Daniel Murphy, Miguel Batista

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MONTREAL — Dane Richards scored in the 67th minute, and the Red Bulls, playing a man short, beat the Montreal Impact 2-1 on Saturday night to extend their winning streak to five games.

Richards pounced on a rebound in close and put the ball under the crossbar, beating fellow Jamaican star Donovan Ricketts.

“I was just in the box, lurking around, and the ball popped out to me and I just knocked it home,” Richards said. “I know my countryman, Donovan Ricketts, he’s unhappy with me right now but I had to do it.”

Kenny Cooper scored his 10th goal to draw the Red Bulls (8-3-1) even as both teams converted penalty kicks in the first half. The striker drove a shot into the top right corner in the 37th minute.

Cooper moved past injured teammate Thierry Henry for the team lead in goals.

The Red Bulls were down to 10 men in the 58th minute after Victor Palsson was shown his second yellow card of the match. Referee Ismail Elfath brought out the red card after Palsson was called for a trip from behind on Impact striker Miguel Montano. Palsson earned his first yellow card 4 minutes in for his hard tackle on Felipe.

“It’s a brilliant performance,” Red Bulls coach Hans Backe said. “It’s five in a row now with a quite inexperienced team. I mean, you can’t demand anything else. It’s almost shocking to pick up wins like that.”

Bernardo Corradi scored his team-leading fourth goal 22 minutes in for Montreal (3-6-3).

“It’s frustrating because they basically come down the field one time,” Impact coach Jesse Marsch said. “It’s a play where we have a lot of numbers back and now it comes to the feet of Richards and he puts it in.

“It’s an incredibly disappointing and frustrating game because we just let this one slip away, but in a lot of ways our ideas and our attempts were not bad.”

Dane Richards, Richards, Montreal Impact, Red Bulls, Donovan Ricketts, Victor Palsson, Kenny Cooper, Thierry Henry, Ismail Elfath, Miguel Montano

Nypost.com

May 18th, 2012

Clear and Fast Turf Firm

©2012 Equibase. All Rights Reserved

FIRST-6 1/2 fur; $45,000; clm($30,000); 3up

Off: 12:52. Good. 3 wide, edged away

Time: 22.72, 45.89, 1:09.5, 1:15.92.

Trainer: David Jacobson

Winner: B G, 7, by Aptitude-Irving's Baby

Scr: Lt. John, Antique Wedding.

Horse

Wt.

PP

1/4

1/2

Str.

Fin

Jockey

Odds

Manteca

121

5

3

3

1 hd

1 3/4

Cohen

0.20

Star Dance M D

119

2

1

1

2 3

2 6

Studart

12.50

Greeley's Law

121

1

4

4

3 2

3 4 1/4

Ortiz, Jr.

20.60

David the Great

121

3

5

5

4 1

4 3/4

Alvarado

3.05

Outside Love

114

4

2

2

5

5

Garcia

44.50

7-Manteca

2.40

2.10

2.10

2-Star Dance M D

5.00

3.30

1-Greeley's Law

3.50

* Exacta (7-2) $13.20 * Trifecta (7-2-1) $40.80 *

Winner picked by DaSilva (Lock), Fountaine, Affrunti, Debbie L. (BestBet), Vic C. (Best Bet), Consensus (Best Bet)

SECOND-7 fur(T); $48,000; mdn clm($65,000); 3YO(f)

Off: 1:24. Good. tracked 2p, edged away

Time: 23.11, 45.97, 1:11., 1:23.61.

Trainer: Christophe Clement

Winner: DK B/ F, 3, by War Chant-Vilia

Scr: Go Go Hannah Go.

Horse

Wt.

PP

1/4

1/2

Str.

Fin

Jockey

Odds

Villanella

122

1

2

2

1 2

1 3

Garcia

5.40

Seductress

122

6

5

4

4 2

2 no

Ortiz, Jr.

22.30

Malibu Red

122

7

6

6

2 1/2

3 1 1/2

Alvarado

2.75

Street Dreams

122

8

4

5

3 1/2

4 3/4

Smith

7.20

Tahima

122

5

8

7

5 1/2

5 2 1/4

Velsqez

18.30

Ginagain

122

3

9

9

8 1 1/2

6 1 1/4

Prado

2.50

Magnificent Image

122

2

3

3

7 1

7 1

Maragh

18.40

Discreet Lady

122

4

7

8

9

8 1/2

Cohen

15.70

Catriana Camille

122

9

1

1

6 1

9

Lezcano

5.30

1-Villanella

12.80

6.80

4.10

6-Seductress

22.00

12.80

7-Malibu Red

3.00

* Daily Double (7-1) $15.00 * Exacta (1-6) $260.00 * Quinella (1-6) $149.00 * Superfecta (1-6-7-8) $4,583.00 * Trifecta (1-6-7) $1,334.00 *

Double picked by Debbie L.

THIRD-1 mile; $29,000; clm($15,000); 3up

Off: 1:55. Good. prompted,bid,clear

Time: 23.45, 46.62, 1:11.35, 1:37.79.

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Winner: CH G, 3, by Street Cry (IRE)-My Boston Gal

Scr: Gramercy, Enchanted Stone.

Horse

Wt.

PP

1/4

1/2

Str.

Fin

Jockey

Odds

McKinley Square

116

5

2

2

1 hd

1 1/2

Smith

1.95

Gallant Eagle

122

1

1

1

2 2

2 2 1/4

Husbnds

3.25

Patent Pending Tom

117

2

3

5

3 8

3 12 1/4

Cmch,J.

21.20

L. C. Sleepy

122

3

4

4

4 1/2

4 nk

DeCarlo

1.35

Ess Shape

122

4

5

3

5

5

Ortiz, Jr.

5.40

7-McKinley Square

5.90

3.30

3.00

2-Gallant Eagle

4.60

3.30

4-Patent Pending Tom

5.80

* Pick 3 (7-1-7) 3 Correct $37.00 * Daily Double (1-7) $35.80 * Exacta (7-2) $25.60 * Trifecta (7-2-4) $115.50 *

Winner picked by Fountaine

FOURTH-6 fur; $40,000; mdn clm($35,000); 3up

Off: 2:27. Good. behind duel 2p, clear

Time: 23.5, 47.19, 59.19, 1:12.24.

Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez

Winner: B C, 3, by Devil His Due-Ginger N Sugar

Horse

Wt.

PP

1/4

1/2

Str.

Fin

Jockey

Odds

Dylan Dangerous

111

6

3

3

1 2

1 3

Ortiz

1.20

Five Card Draw

124

7

2

1

2 1/2

2 nk

Smith

18.50

Karakorum Holiday

118

5

1

2

3 6

3 4 3/4

Espinoz

14.80

Missile Nick

118

3

5

5

5 5

4 3 1/4

Alvarado

3.60

Lone Star Gold

118

2

4

4

4 1

5 1

Ortiz, Jr.

4.70

Blake Street Bully

118

1

7

6

6 3

6 5 1/2

Blke-Bez

72.0

Souper Douper

118

8

8

7

7 6

7 7 1/4

Maragh

4.20

Daybeforethederby

117

4

6

8

8

8

Garcia

32.00

Next >

1

2

Debbie L., Vic C.

Nypost.com

The Mets’ beleaguered bullpen began the day as one of baseball’s worst, while Cincinnati’s was one of the game’s best. But the Mets’ relievers won that matchup, a big reason the Amazin’s pulled off a come-from-behind victory themselves.

After R.A. Dickey had a rare off day by his standards, falling behind 4-0, the bullpen — which has a major league-worst nine blown saves — held the Reds scoreless for three innings. After Jon Rauch and Bobby Parnell (1-0), Frank Francisco worked the ninth in a non-save situation.

“I thought the job Jon Rauch and Bobby did was absolutely tremendous,’’ said manager Terry Collins. “Bobby Parnell, if we do this right, we’re going to have ourselves one heck of a relief pitcher. As he continues to trust his stuff, he’s got closer stuff. He can be a big-time closer. He’s knocking on the door.’’

* Before the game, the Mets designated reliever D.J. Carrasco for assignment and called up Robert Carson. Collins said Carson, 23, has a solid cutter and slider to go with 95-mph heat, and unlike his prior call-up has a shot to be the second lefty.

“The bullpen has been a frustration, there’s no question about that. We made an attempt to fix it [in the offseason], and at this point, it hasn’t worked out as well as we would have liked,’’ general manager Sandy Alderson said of a bullpen that had an 8.69 ERA in the prior seven games.

* GM Sandy Alderson said Jenrry Mejia, who had Tommy John surgery last May, will get a couple of starts at Binghamton but could be a bullpen option.

“Then he’ll probably go to [Triple-A] Buffalo for a couple of starts,’’ said Alderson. “Then when we get to the end of that, say, two- to four-start cycle, then we’ll decide what he’ll be, in terms of role, and where he’ll do it.’’

* Reliever Pedro Beato (shoulder), on the 60-day DL retroactive to March 26, is expected to be ready when his DL stint is done.

* For the flight to Toronto, Mets players wore NHL jerseys, including Jason Bay (Hartford Whalers), Justin Turner (Rangers), Andres Torres (Devils) and David Wright (Anaheim).

* Dickey had a season-high eight strikeouts. . . . Daniel Murphy had two hits and is batting .423 in 13 games since May 4. . . . Lucas Duda had two hits and two RBIs. He is hitting .320 in his last 29 games.

Bobby Parnell, Jon Rauch, The Mets, Sandy Alderson, R.A. Dickey, Terry Collins, Frank Francisco, Robert Carson, Pedro Beato, bullpen

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Mike Camardese couldn’t walk two steps without being stopped by a student. Each one shook his hand, patted him on the back or asked how they could help. Others shouted encouragement from across the street.

The longtime Canarsie football coach and retired physical education teacher, currently out of the job he has done for nearly three decades, smiled and nodded.

“It’s like a funeral around here,” he said, shaking his head like he was disagreeing with a holding penalty in a resigned manner.

For the time being, it is.

On May 7, Camardese, 56, was given an unsatisfactory rating by school administrators, which gives them the power to dismiss him. The job opening has been posted, but a replacement has yet to be named. Junior varsity coach Joseph Brown is running spring practices.

An Rong Xu

Canarsie footbal coach Mike Camardese plans to fight the 'U' rating school administrators gave him in the hopes of retaining his position.

One of the longest-tenured and winningest football coaches in New York City, Camardese is appealing the ‘U’ rating with the United Federation of Teachers, but that could take up to eight months, the coach said. He declined to elaborate on the basis of ‘U’ rating for fear it could hurt his appeal, but did say it was “little irrelevant things they are trying to get me. It’s no scandal. It’s all nonsense.”

Camardese, for example, has been faulted for having alumni in the locker room with the team. He's been blamed for assistant coaches parking in unauthorized parkings spots, he said.

Athletic director Dale Wilson referred all comments to Department of Education spokesperson Margie Feinberg. In a statement, she said: “We cannot comment on a teacher's personnel record. The campus has strong PSAL programs for students who attend schools there.”

Since Canarsie was phased out a few years ago and turned into Canarsie Educational Campus, a series of smaller schools, Camardese said the school has changed. A group of principals for each school was brought in and he has butted heads with school administrators on a variety of issues

“For 30 years I had never had a problem with anybody,” said Camardese, who compiled a 194-100 mark, led the Chiefs to four city championship games, the last one in 2007, and sent countless athletes to play at the next level, including NFL players Leon Williams and Lance Schulters. “I’m here for the kids. It’s the kids who are getting hurt.”

One of those such kids is Donchervel Smith, Canarsie’s hulking middle linebacker/fullback. The junior was just beginning to pick up significant Division I interest when Camardese was issued the ‘U’ rating. He’s spoken with Temple, Rutgers, Syracuse and Maine over the phone, but there is nobody at the actual school to help in the process.

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Mike Camardese, Canarsie, Canarsie, school administrators, physical education teacher, Canarsie Educational Campus, United Federation of Teachers, Joseph Brown, Margie Feinberg

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Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling asked Rhode Island for additional help to save his video game company yesterday, prompting state leaders to consider whether the firm is viable enough to justify further investment.

Schilling briefed Gov. Lincoln Chafee and the state’s Economic Development Corp. board in a closed-door session.

Chafee would not say what Schilling is seeking from the state. Schilling declined to answer questions, saying only: “My priority right now is to get back to my team.”

Concerns about 38 Studios’ financial health arose when it failed to make a scheduled $1.1 million payment to the Economic Development Corp. on May 1.

AP

Curt Schilling

The business was lured from Massachusetts in 2010 after Rhode Island offered a $75 million loan guarantee that state officials said would help bring hundreds of jobs and millions in tax revenue.

Under the terms of the loan guarantee agreement, 38 Studios promised to bring to Rhode Island a total of 450 jobs over three years.

The company released its much-anticipated first game, “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning,” to strong reviews in February.

state’s Economic Development Corp., Lincoln Chafee, Rhode Island, Economic Development Corp., Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, video game company, state leaders, Schilling

Nypost.com

BALTIMORE — Mike Wickland isn’t known by many Yankees fans, but he is the reason Andy Pettitte’s 39-year-old body wasn’t barking yesterday.

Roughly 24 hours after Pettitte pitched 6 1/3 innings of a big-league game for the first time since October 2010, the left-hander said his bones, joints, tendons and muscles weren’t reminding him of all the time away and the fact that he will be 40 next month.

BOX SCORE

“I feel good; Mike in Tampa did a great job of getting me ready,’’ Pettitte said of Wickland, the Yankees strength and conditioning coordinator.

The day after a starter pitches is a lock for the body to be barking. “Good soreness’’ is the term pitchers use to describe their bodies. However, Pettitte said he felt that way after his minor league outings and not yesterday.

“I was flying all over the place, flying from Tampa to Trenton and then to Rochester,’’ he said of his minor league itinerary.

Now, Pettitte is looking forward to getting into the normal routine every big-league starter craves. His is slightly different since he throws a regular bullpen two days after the start and shorter bullpen the third day. Most starters don’t throw that second pen.

“It’s good to get back in the comfort zone,’’ he said. “And to get back to good timing and schedule.’’

Pettitte, who took a 6-2 loss to the light-hitting Mariners Sunday at Yankee Stadium, is slated to face the Reds Friday night in The Bronx.

Pettitte’s $2.5 million contract becomes guaranteed Thursday. According to an Associated Press report, his pro-rated deal is worth $1.573 million and has award bonuses for days on the roster and three starts. However, the bonuses can’t push the deal past the $2.5 million mark.

* Derek Jeter’s third-inning single pushed him into 16th place on the all-time hit list with 3,143. Paul Waner is next at 3,152.

Jeter went 1-for-5 and hit into two double plays. In the last two games he has banged into four double plays.

* The Yankees are 0-7 when they don’t homer.

“It’s how we score runs,’’ Girardi said of his lineup that was tied with the Rangers for the AL lead in homers (53). “A big part of the speed game is not here with [B rett Gardner] and [Eduardo Nunez] gone. We are a home-run hitting lineup. We are a club that hits the ball out of the ballpark. We are not built like the St. Louis Cardinals of the 1980s.

Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira homered in last night’s 8-5 win.

Gardner is on the DL with a right elbow problem and won’t pick up a bat for at least five more days.

* Girardi said he saw video of Joba Chamberlain playing catch and the right-handed reliever “looked good.’’

However, Girardi doesn’t have any type of timetable for Chamberlain’s return.

Andy Pettitte, Pettitte, Mike Wickland, Yankees, The Yankees, minor league, Eduardo Nunez, St. Louis Cardinals

Nypost.com

Staten Island has a new first-place team.

Shea Spitzbarth gave up two earned runs on six hits with eight strikeouts to lead Moore Catholic to a 5-3 win over St. Joseph by the Sea in CHSAA Staten Island ‘AA’ baseball Monday in Huguenot.

Joe Todaro and Chris Goetz each had two RBIs and John Baggs clocked a home run for Moore (11-1), which takes over first place heading into a game with Monsignor Farrell on Tuesday and a rematch with St. Joseph by the Sea on Wednesday. The Mavericks control their own destiny and with two victories they’ll win the division title.

Joe Santigate and Mike Leone each had RBIs for Sea (11-2), which has now lost two of its last three games. Liam Vogt started and gave up five runs on 10 hits in seven innings.

Iona Prep 7, Archbishop Stepinac 6: Christian Berg had two RBIs and Cody Polchinski, Vinny DeMaria, Mike Briganti and Dan Fischer all had two hits apiece for Iona (11-5). Vinny Martin got the win with two scoreless innings of relief and Tim McCarthy gave up one run on three hits with six strikeouts in four innings. James Decker had two RBIs for Stepinac (7-9).

Cardinal Spellman 15, Mount St. Michael 2: Jason Polgano had two hits and an RBI and only gave up two runs on five hits pitching in his first game up from the JV for Spellman (8-8). John Russo had a bases-clearing double and Steve Rodriguez added a big RBI hit. Mount is 1-13.

St. Francis Prep 2, St. Edmund Prep 1 (8 innings): Justin Teitelbaum gave up just one run on two hits with five strikeouts in eight innings to lead SFP (10-4). Steve Pelan had two hits and scored the winning run on Bobby Perretti’s walk-off single. St. Edmund is 2-13.

Archbishop Molloy 2, Holy Cross 1: Mike Rogers drove in the tying run in the sixth and Jamal Waire plated the winning run in the top of the seventh for Molloy (9-6). Donovan Armas gave up just one run on three hits with seven strikeouts and John Sideris and Jonathan Ramon, making his season debut, each had a hit. Cross is 7-7.

Monsignor Farrell 7, St. Peter’s 0: Peter Kennedy and Nick Festa had two RBIs apiece to lead Farrell (6-8), which clinched a playoff spot with the victory. Kevin Garzone gave up no runs on four hits and four walks and struck out six in six innings. St. Peter’s finishes its season 4-9 and will miss the playoffs.

Bishop Ford 5, Christ the King 4: Matt Chavez went 3-for-4 and drove in Will Garces for the game-winning run with a triple for Ford (10-6). Helbert Estevez gave up no runs on one hit with six strikeouts in four innings of relief to pick up the victory. Danny Arroyo and Garces both tripled and scored in a three-run fifth. CK is 2-14.

Regis 4, Xavier 3: Aidan Hone gave up no earned runs on two hits in 4-1/3 innings in his first varsity start to pick up the win at MCU Park for Regis (4-10), which swept the season series against its rival. Mike Comiskey allowed no runs and just a walk with three strikeouts in 2-2/3 innings for the save and John Roque had a two-RBI single to break up a 2-all tie in the third. J.P. Ramirez started for Xavier (7-8).

CHSAA CLASS A

LaSalle 13, Sacred Heart 1: Jason Negron gave up one unearned run on two hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in five innings to lead LaSalle (5-3). Victor Rosario went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base and Josh Smith went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, a walk, two RBIs and a stolen base. Eric Hernandez was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Danny Colon went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Sacred Heart is 4-4.

OTHER SCORES

Fordham Prep 13, Salesian 1

Cardinal Hayes 5, All Hallows 4

mraimondi@nypost.com

Monsignor Farrell, strikeouts, John Baggs

Nypost.com

CHSAA boys basketball will have a slightly new look – and a new schedule – during the 2012-13 season, league chairman Paul Gilvary confirmed with The Post on Monday night.

Headlining the changes will be a move up to Class AA for Iona Prep as All Hallows moves down to Class A. Moore Catholic will also move up to ‘AA’ on Staten Island, switching spots with Monsignor Farrell, which will now be ‘A.’ Like last year, the alignment was put together by a ranking system voted on by league coaches.

“The way that we want to look at it is, nothing is ever set in stone,” Gilvary said. “This year is this year. What we felt was that the changes made worked out wonderfully last year. All three divisions were thrilled with it. I think it benefited the ‘AA’, the ‘A’ and the ‘B.’”

Denis Gostev

Iona Prep will be up in CHSAA Class AA next year after winning the 'A' city and state titles this past season.

Nazareth goes from Class B to ‘A,’ along with Salesian. The CHSAA ‘B’ league will now just have five teams.

Iona Prep won the CHSAA Class A city and state titles this past season and Nazareth did the same in the ‘B.’ Moore Catholic went to the ‘A’ city semifinals and Salesian went to the ‘B’ semis after winning the title in 2010-11.

Another big change came in the ‘AA’ schedule.

This past season, Brooklyn/Queens teams only played Archdiocesan teams in league play with a similar ranking based on the coaches’ vote. For instance, Christ the King was ranked No. 1 in Brooklyn/Queens in the preseason and only played St. Raymond and Cardinal Hayes of the Archdiocesan, the top two ranked teams.

That will no longer be the case next year. Each team will play its diocesan rivals twice and play teams from the other diocese once. Only the Archdiocese will play the Staten Island teams, though, and just once, giving them 18 league games. Brooklyn/Queens will play 16 league games.

“That was just to get it off the ground,” Gilvary said of the format this past season. “The coaches overwhelmingly want to play everyone.”

Here’s how the alignment will look:

CLASS AA

Brooklyn/Queens

Archbishop Molloy

Bishop Loughlin

Christ the King

Holy Cross

St. Francis Prep

Xaverian

New York Archdiocese

Archbishop Stepinac

Cardinal Hayes

Fordham Prep

Iona Prep

Mount St. Michael

St. Raymond

Staten Island

Moore Catholic

St. Peter’s

CLASS A

Brooklyn/Queens

Bishop Ford

Monsignor McClancy

Nazareth

St. Edmund Prep

St. John’s Prep

New York Archdiocese

All Hallows

Cardinal Spellman

LaSalle

Regis

Salesian

Xavier

Staten Island

Monsignor Farrell

St. Joseph by the Sea

CLASS B

Blessed Sacrament

Cathedral Prep

Monsignor Scanlan

Sacred Heart

St. Agnes

mraimondi@nypost.com

Class A. Moore Catholic, Iona Prep, Paul Gilvary, CHSAA, Class AA, Monsignor Farrell, Moore Catholic, Staten Island, CHSAA Class AA, Francis PrepXaverianNew York ArchdioceseArchbishop, Cardinal Hayes

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To look at Limas Sweed — all 6-foot-4, 220 pounds of him — is to understand why the Steelers made the strapping wide receiver the 53rd overall pick four years ago.

To look at his meager NFL statistics and numerous trips to the trainer’s room is to understand why Sweed finds himself reduced to a tryout player in the Giants rookie minicamp this weekend.

“I’m just looking for a chance,” the University of Texas product said after the first day of camp at the Meadowlands. “I know what I’m capable of doing in this league, but injuries have really held me back. But if I can stay healthy and get that opportunity, watch out.”

Although the Super Bowl champions have Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz and took wideout Rueben Randle from LSU in the second round last month, Sweed still sees that opportunity with the Giants because of Mario Manningham’s free-agent exit and the top-heavy look of their receiving corps.

Sweed, who has been out of football since Pittsburgh released him last September after another stint on the injury list, also won’t have to endure his name being little more than a punch line like it quickly became with the Steelers.

Pittsburgh doesn’t miss often in the draft, but they whiffed massively with Sweed. In the rare moments when he could stay healthy, he appeared in just five games over four seasons (including one playoff trip) and caught a mere seven passes for 69 yards and no touchdowns.

As well as the frequent medical maladies, Sweed is perhaps best known in Pittsburgh for finally working his way into the lineup then promptly dropping a potential TD pass against the Bengals in Week 3 in 2009 — a miscue that resulted in a 23-20 loss.

Sweed is hoping for a fresh start here, although Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride didn’t exactly seem optimistic about his chances after the first practice.

“He looks like he’s a little bit rusty,” Gilbride said. “He’s got a ways to go in terms of sharpening some of the things he was doing in the expression of his routes, but he’s a big guy that looks like he can catch it.”

Whether the Giants give Sweed a second chance to prove he can do that remains to be seen.

bhubbuch@nypost.com

Exclusive Super Bowl merchandise featuring New York Post front pages

Limas Sweed, Steelers, Rueben Randle, University of Texas product, Hakeem Nicks, the Giants, Giants, the Giants, Pittsburgh, Victor Cruz, Kevin Gilbride

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