Flores a ’stone cold clubber in Mets’ sweep
ATLANTA — Though he grew up watching “The Flintstones” — in Spanish — Wilmer Flores had no idea why the Braves’ organist has been playing the cartoon’s theme song before each of his at-bats. The music hadn’t even caught his attention. “Wilma!” As it turns out, Flores is really Bam Bam — an unstoppable force in the Mets’ lineup who seems superhuman lately.
With his 6-for-9 performance in Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of the Braves, the Mets infielder continued his rampage through Bedrock. He is now 39-for-99 (.394) in his past 31 games, excelling against both lefties and righties.
“All you can do out there is hit the ball hard,” Flores said after the Mets beat the Braves, 6-1 and 8-1.
Flores is now batting .333 for the season with five homers and 17 RBIs.
“I look at Wilmer the same way I look at [Michael] Conforto,” manager Terry Collins said. “When we started the year, he was a backup player and he has worked his way into the lineup, and it looks like he’s going to say, ‘I’m staying.’ So he has done a good job.”
Flores started at first base in Game 1 and at third base in the nightcap. In the second game, Flores smashed two doubles and a triple as part of his four-hit performance. It wasn’t enough to wrestle the victory crown — given to the Mets’ player of the game following a win — from Steven Matz, who allowed one run over seven innings in his season debut. In the first game, Flores was overshadowed by Yoenis Cespedes, who delivered a grand slam in his return from the disabled list.
“Right now being out there just gives you confidence and things happen,” Flores said. “In the second game, they were pitching me away and I got fastballs and I went with it. I’m letting the ball travel and hitting it hard. I’ve jut waited for my time.”
Wilmer!