Mets' Cespedes fouls pitch off knee, finishes AB

(USATSI)

NEW YORK — Understatement coming: Yoenis Cespedes was in some pain during Game 4.

The Mets center fielder came to bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning — the Mets led the Royals 1-0 — with no out. He fouled off a pitch to run the count to 0-2 and then went straight down the ground, initially not moving.

Replays could show that Cespedes fouled the pitch directly off his left kneecap. After a lengthy delay, Cespedes finally rose to his feet and he ended up finishing the at-bat (he’d pop out via infield-fly rule).

(USATSI)

The problem was that he was barely able to move down to first base with the ball in the air and had a bad limp as he walked slowly back to the dugout.

Juan Lagares would replace Cespedes in center for the top of the seventh.

The Mets did get one run on a Lucas Duda sac fly, but otherwise they only scored one run after a bases-loaded, no outs situation.

As for Cespedes, he’s already been pretty banged up throughout this postseason. He had the shoulder injury that forced him from Game 4 of the NLCS and manager Terry Collins discussed a hand injury that has been plaguing Cespedes for a while.

“I talked to him last night after [Game 4] was over, and I asked him if his shoulder was bothering and he said no,” Collins said before Game 5. “And the hand I don’t think — it wasn’t getting hit in the hand. He had a checked swing two months ago that he felt a little something in his hand. He’s had it ever since and he’s been red hot and he’s been cold. I don’t think either thing is affecting him right now.”

Cespedes has struggled for a bit, too, after becoming the conquering hero of Queens for nearly two months after being acquired in front of the trade deadline. He entered the game hitting .235/.245/.373 with two homers in the postseason. Oh, and 17 strikeouts against just one walk. He was 0 for 3 in Game 5, knocking his line to .222/.232/.352.

And now he’s got a bruised left kneecap. If the series returns to Kansas City, Cespedes is definitely a big question mark for the Mets.

(USATSI)

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