Ces, resilient Mets rock to record start

MIAMI — Yoenis Cespedes has battled through fever and flu-like symptoms, a congested nose and sore throat for the last four days. This does not bother the Mets slugger as much as the fact that he is trying to get through a slump.

So when manager Mickey Callaway asks him to sit, Cespedes refuses to take a day off.

Tuesday night, that refusal was fortuitous for the Mets.

Despite having gone 0-for-8 in this series, Cespedes pulled a chopper up the third-base line in the ninth that got past Brian Anderson for his second game-winning hit in the last three games.

“That was big. He needed it,” Callaway said. “He’s been feeling terrible and still playing. I’ve been asking him ‘Hey Ces do you need a day,’ .... He didn’t want one. So, him not taking a day maybe won us the game today.”

The Mets rallied twice Tuesday night to beat the Marlins, 8-6, at a nearly empty Marlins Park. That gave them a franchise record 9-1 start to the season and their seventh straight win.

That streak was kept intact only by two of the three hits Cespedes has managed in his last 24 at-bats. He has struck out 14 times over the last four games. Still, he had a bloop single in the 12th inning to win the game Sunday night in Washington and the double down the line Tuesday.

There is no doubt the slugger is huge to the Mets’ lineup, but as we can see from this historic start to the season, it is deeper than it has been in years.

Asdrubal Cabrera hit home runs from both sides of the plate Tuesday night. Wilmer Flores, who has not had many chances so far this season, responded with a double and a home run. Michael Conforto has reached base in all five games he has played this season.

This lineup exudes a confidence and conviction that has been missing from recent Met teams. When the Mets rallied twice Tuesday night, it marked the 12th time they have scored in the very next at-bat out of the 23 times they have given up a run.

“We fight every inning. We fight to come back,” Cabrera said. “We have a good team to do it. We never put our head down. We just keep fighting.”

So, after years of watching the team rely on its young pitchers to get by with little run support, the offense is coming up big. It picked up Jacob deGrom after he gave up a three-run lead in the fifth inning.

“This is a fun team to be around, they grind out every at-bat and find a way. They did a great job of picking me up there,” said deGrom. “I feel like we’re in every ballgame. Come out that inning, they tie it up for me. End up getting the win later on. Very impressive, fun to watch, fun to be a part of.”

Tuesday, Cespedes told Callaway he would be in the lineup despite his sore throat and the fact he feels like he can’t breathe through his nose. “The only way I can go out of this slump is taking at-bats and go out and playing and doing whatever I do, which is hitting,” Cespedes said.

He needs the reps to work on his timing.

“When I am not ahead (of the pitch), I am behind,” Cespedes said.

In 42 at-bats in 10 games, Cespedes has yet to find a rhythm. He has eight hits, including three home runs, with a team-leading 10 RBI. e said he started to feel sick Saturday against the Nationals, which is around the time he started to feel his timing was off. But he does not think that is affecting his at-bats.

“I don’t think it’s related, a slump comes up as it is supposed to come up,” Cespedes said. “Everybody goes through that.”

When Cespedes goes through one, he needs to play. So this afternoon, Cespedes will walk into the clubhouse and expect to see his name in the lineup, whether he has a cold or not.

“Why not?” Cespedes asked with a smile. “I am not tired. I want to play.”

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