Yoenis Cespedes Blasts Colorado Rockies Out Of Coors, New York Mets Win 14-9

Aug 21, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; New York Mets center fielder Y. Cespedes (52) hits his third home run of the game during the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies and New York Mets took on the first game of their three-game set from Coors Field in Denver on Friday night.

Final. 9. 108. 14. 3

More from Colorado Rockies News

The New York Mets chased Colorado Rockies’ starter Jon Gray from the game in the second inning, and Yoenis Cespedes slugged three home runs, as the visiting NL East leaders beat up the home team 14-9 at Coors Field on Friday night in Denver.

The Mets started the scoring off with a run in the top of the first, when Lucas Duda hit a dribbler through the hole at shortstop agains the Rockies’ defensive shift to score Yoenis Cespedes and make it a 1-0 game off Gray early.

The Rockies would immediately get the run back, though, when Carlos Gonzalez crushed a solo home run off Bartolo Colon to even up the game and give CarGo his 29th homer of the season.

Gray was never as sharp in this outing as he had been the past couple, though, and he gave up six runs in the second inning, eventually getting chased from the game after just 45 pitches. The lowlight of the inning for him was Cespedes’ grand slam, which came about after, among other things, a walk and a hit batter (Colon!) allowed by Gray in the inning.

When it was all said and done for Gray, who only lasted 1.2 innings before being relieved by Christian Bergman, the Mets were up 7-1. Gray ended up allowing eight hits and a walk to go along with the seven runs, and didn’t strike out anybody.

In the bottom of the second inning, though, Ben Paulsen slugged a solo home run to left center field to at least get the Rockies back on the board off Colon, as the club attempted to chip away at the Mets’ early lead.

The Rockies put up two more runs in the bottom of the third inning, when Nolan Arenado drove in CarGo on a double, and then scored on DJ LeMahieu‘s ground ball single, making it a 7-4 game.

The Mets would get one back in the top of the fourth inning, when Cespedes hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot to right center field off Bergman, to make the score 8-4 again in favor of New York.

But to their credit, the Rockies never quit, scoring three more runs in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a home run from Nolan Arenado, that made the game 8-7 and chased Colon from the game for New York.

In the bottom of the fifth, then, Nick Hundley tripled home LeMahieu to tie the game again at eight runs apiece. Hundley then tried to score on Kyle Parker‘s fly ball to right field, but was thrown out at the plate on a very close play that was confirmed by instant replay.

In the top of the sixth inning, against reliever Christian Friedrich, the Mets started to pull away again; Cespedes hit his third home run of the game, followed by a solo home run in the top of the seventh from Travis d’artaud that made it 12-9 Mets.

The Mets would add one more run in each of the eighth and ninth innings, going up by five and then holding the lead to win 14-9 on Friday night.

Cespedes’ three home runs were the story of the game, though the Rockies to their credit pounded out nine runs on 13 hits (three of which were home runs) and three walks of their own.

Friedrich (0-4) took the loss in relief, though Bergman threw very well, allowing just a run in 3.1 innings of long relief, ultimately allowing the Rockies to get back in the game after being down early.

The Rockies and Mets return to action on Saturday night at 6:10 pm MT, before finishing their three-game series at Coors Field on Sunday afternoon.

More from Rox Pile

Home/Colorado Rockies News