After cutting a trip to Triple-A Las Vegas off at the pass, the Mets decided that Michael Conforto would remain with the team after all when Kirk Nieuwenhuis went on the DL with a neck injury.
And what a fortunate decision it was as Conforto led the charge with a three-run homer to put the Mets up 3-0 in what would end up being a decisive 12-1 victory over the Miami Marlins.
The home run, his first as a major leaguer, was hit to center field and was projected to be an incredible 435 foot round tripper for Conforto.
“That ball was crushed,” manager Terry Collins said. “That ball goes out in any park. It was a good night for him.”
The win put the Mets in sole possession of first place after the Washington Nationals lost 6-4 to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
But the Mets’ rookie outfielder wasn’t the only one hitting prodigious blasts on Monday night.
The Amazins acquired Yoenis Cespedes to be the difference maker in their quest for the postseason, and that’s exactly what he was last night as he gave the Mets a glimpse of what’s to come.
Cespedes went 3-for-5 with three doubles and his first four RBIs for the Mets. His three doubles tied a franchise record.
“That’s why we got him,” manager Terry Collins said. “We got him to be that guy in the middle of the lineup who drives in those big runs.”
“He’s the real deal,” Collins said.
Amazingly, Cespedes just missed having a two-homer, six RBI game as two of his doubles were off the top of the wall and would have been home runs in 24 of 30 ballparks according to ESPN Stats & Info, and that includes Citi Field.
Cespedes took over the major league lead with 31 doubles, and he’s hitting .294 with 18 home runs and 65 RBIs overall this season.
Since joining the New York Mets, Cespedes is batting .333 with three doubles, three runs scored, four RBIs, a walk and a .968 OPS.
