During the Mets 4-0 win over the Rockies, Juan Lagares had one of his best games of the season. He collected three hits in five at-bats, and he drove in two RBI.
He led off the game with a double in the first inning, and he then belted another extra base hit that drove in Travis d’Arnaud and Ruben Tejada in the 9th inning to extend the Mets’ lead.
George Wills of the NY Post says that Lagares made his manager look like a genius after Terry Collins predicted a breakout game for him.
“I fully expect a big game out of him because I think he has something to prove,” Collins had said a few hours before the game.
“Big league players are proud guys,” the manager said. “Every guy in that room has an ego. That’s what makes them great. They believe they’re good. He was playing every day and now he’s not and it doesn’t sit very well. Sometimes you have to prove you’re the guy that belongs out there. He’s been itching to go.”
Lagares increased his average to .257, but his OPS still lags behind at .630. Collins says the main problem for Lagares has been his discipline at the plate, which has been an issue for him ever since his days in the minor leagues.
“He knows what he has to do,” Collins said. “We’ve had enough conversations during the season to try to get him to understand.”
It’s been a rough year for Lagares, but he could attempt to salvage the season if he has more days like he did yesterday. Hopefully, last night’s performance is a sign that better days are ahead for the Mets’ 26-year old centerfielder.
“It’s a little hard,” he said. “But we’ve been winning a lot of games and that’s what matters. I’ll just keep working hard.”
