NEW YORK -- David Cone isn't ready to give up on his comeback just yet -- despite a nagging hip injury that forced him out of his start after only two innings Tuesday night.

"Everybody always worries about my arm, but my arm is free and easy," Cone said. "It's the lower half of my body that is preventing me from throwing hard."

Cone left the New York Mets' 6-2 loss to Houston with a sore left hip that has been bothering him for years. Cone said he has been diagnosed with chronic bursitis in his hip, but X-rays have shown no damage. He expects to have an MRI on Wednesday.

"It's something I thought I could manage," he said. "It's something that's acted up the last few years of my career. Once I get into a game, it usually gets loose. But not tonight."

Cone, making his fourth start after sitting out all last season, struggled against the Astros. He allowed two runs in the first inning before pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the second.

"It was evident right away that he didn't have his command," Mets manager Art Howe said. "I think it was important to get him out of there before something serious happened."

The 40-year-old Cone threw 51 pitches in two innings, allowing two runs, three hits and three walks. He was replaced by Jae Seo and the Mets lost 6-2.

"He couldn't get his release point down,'' catcher Mike Piazza said. "He couldn't get his landing point down."

After throwing five scoreless innings in his first start of the season against Montreal, Cone has allowed 12 runs in 11 innings and lost his next three starts.

The Mets said he is day to day. But with Pedro Astacio set to come off the disabled list this week, Cone's spot in the rotation -- and comeback -- could be in jeopardy.

"I'm not ready to give up by any means," Cone said. "I'm going to do anything I can to strengthen my hip and keep going out there."