ATLANTA – Yoenis Cespedes says he’s just one part of the New York Mets. You can be sure it is a very large part.
The Cuban center fielder hit a home run and drove in three runs and rookie Steven Matz pitched five strong innings as the Mets won their fifth in a row with a 5-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.
“It is not about me, it is about the team,” Cespedes said through a translator. “I am one part of the team. To be producing, and seeing the team winning, and everybody chipping in for one purpose. That is to play in the playoffs and hopefully we can bring the big trophy to the city.”
With Washington losing to Miami 2-1, the Mets lead the NL East by a season-high 8 1/2 games.
“We have 21 left,” said Mets manager Terry Collins. “We have to go out and play the games. We have to win games. I’ll be happy when we have an 8 game lead with eight to play.”