With the Mets up 7-3 in the 4th inning, Yoenis Cespedes delivered the fatal blow to the Dodgers in game 3 of the NLDS. He blasted a three run shot to left field that put the game completely out of reach and caused the crowd at Citi Filed to erupt.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Cespedes called the stadium’s atmosphere “incredible” and said that he never experienced anything like it before.
While he ended the regular season in a slump, Cespedes is now scorching hot once again. He’s homered in back to back games, and he finished the night going 3-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored.
“It makes me very happy, because I think that home run helped me put my team at a little bit more of an advantage,” Cespedes said. “I think today’s win was really important and I’m happy with that.”
He became first Met to homer in consecutive postseason games since John Olerud in Games Four and Five of the 1999 NLCS against the Braves.
Cespedes, along with Travis d’Arnaud, also became the first duo in franchise history to each collect three hits in a playoff game since Game Two of the 1973 World Series at Oakland when Cleon Jones and Bud Harrelson each had three hits.
Not only did Cespdes impressive with his power yesterday, but he also made a great play using his speed. He beat out an infield single in the third inning that ignited the Mets’ four run rally in the second which gave the team the lead.
“We talked the other day,” manager Terry Collins said of Cespedes, a talent quite unlike any other he has ever been around on an everyday basis. “And he told me: ‘It’s time to play.’ And then he shows you what he can do. He’s electrifying on the field. He does whatever he wants to do.” (Mike Vaccaro, NY Post)
He’s been unbelievable ever since the Mets acquired him from Detroit with his excellent combination of power and speed. Most importantly, he’s continued to be a tremendous producer on the big stage. In 13 career post season games, he’s batting.346 with three home runs and 10 RBI.
“He can get in and let us ride his back,” Collins said. “He’s a dangerous player.”
