SAN DIEGO — You can't teach an old reliever new tricks.
A day after receiving a "direct" hit on his genitals, Mets reliever LaTroy Hawkins said he isn't about to start wearing a cup. Hawkins took a Jerry Hairston Jr. one-hopper off his manhood in Wednesday's ninth inning against the Dodgers and remained in the game to allow a tying two-run homer to Andre Ethier moments later.
The 40-year-old reliever was in agony after the game, but said his pain had subsided yesterday.
"Once we got out of the L.A. area, with all the bumps — it seemed like the bus driver hit every bump he could find — it was fine," Hawkins said before the Mets' 4-1 victory over the Padres last night. "It was smooth sailing, but I iced all the way."
Hawkins said he does not plan to start wearing a cup, citing the discomfort of trying to pitch with the protective piece.
"I never have, I never will," Hawkins said. "I tried it a couple of times in the minor leagues. It wasn't comfortable. I've thrown a lot of innings. I've been in a lot of ballgames. This was the first time I got hit. It won't change."
Hawkins said it had been an interesting 18 hours.
"I've got my daughter making jokes," he said. "I've got everybody making jokes. I got more text messages this morning than I've had in a long time."
In spring training, Jordany Valdespin was hit in the genitals — without a cup — by a Justin Verlander fastball and subsequently began wearing protection.
But Valdespin stopped wearing the cup after a few games.
* Wilmer Flores has shown enough to probably avoid a disabled list stint.
The rookie infielder last night missed a third straight start with a sprained right ankle, but based on his pinch-hitting appearance a night earlier in Los Angeles, manager Terry Collins said he expects Flores to return within days.
Flores delivered a pinch-hit single against the Dodgers, but was removed for a pinch runner after hobbling to first base.
"We had four guys ready to run, depending on where he was on the bases," Collins said. "We needed a guy at first, so it was [Jenrry] Mejia. A guy at second, it was going to be [Zack] Wheeler. A guy at third, it was going to be [Matt] Harvey, so we had all sorts of options."
Collins planned to have Flores available again for pinch-hitting duty last night, but he didn't enter the game.
mpuma@nypost.com
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