All-Star break has Ces’ looking good as new
Four days off did wonders for Yoenis Cespedes. It made him look like, well, himself again.
The slugging outfielder, with newfound life in his legs and speed in his bat, had four hits and an outfield assist, as the Mets began the second half of the season by routing the Rockies, 14-2, at Citi Field on Friday night.
Cespedes entered the series against the leaders for the second NL Wild Card in a massive funk, without an extra-base hit in his last 11 games and just six hits in his previous 45 at-bats.
He had appeared sluggish, like he still was battling the injuries to his legs that cost him 40 games over the first three months of the season.
But he looked like a different player Friday night, following the All-Star break. He picked up hits in his first three at bats — two singles and a hustle double — and added a run-scoring infield single in the eighth.
He also threw out DJ LeMahieu to end the sixth inning from fairly deep left f ield, after the play was overturned following a safe call.
“He’s got all the skills,” manager Terry Collins said. “He beat out a ground ball, took another ball, turned it into a double. Hopefully, that tells you his legs are feeling much better, and we just hope it continues. If we’re going to get in [the wildcard race], he’s got to lead the way.”
The double was the most impressive part of his evening,
Cespedes using his legs to create his first extra-base hit since June 23, easily beating strongarmed right fielder Carlos Gonzalez’s throw.
And just to prove how good he was feeling, Cespedes busted it down the line to first base in the eighth, securing a rare infield single.
The double, leading off to the third inning, jump-started a sixrun frame for the Mets, enabling them to put away the Rockies early and cruise to an easy, muchneeded victory they hope leads to a strong homestand against the Rockies, Cardinals and Athletics.
“He’s a game-changer for us,” said outfielder Michael Conforto, who homered and drove in four runs. “When he’s 100 percent healthy, he can do a lot of things. When he’s firing on all cylinders, he’s kind of an X-factor for us.”