Yoenis Cespedes homered Friday in his first game since July 20, 2018
By John Buhler
Yoenis Cespedes’ first home run in two years proves to be the game-winner.
Yoenis Cespedes keeps the New York Mets‘ dream of a perfect 60-0 regular season alive.
For MLB Opening Day, the Mets hosted an NL East rival in the Atlanta Braves. With Jacob deGrom on the mound for the Mets and Mike Soroka starting opposite of him for the Braves, a pitchers’ duel is what we fully expected at Citi Field on Friday evening. That’s what we got out of deGrom and Soroka, who allowed only five hits over 11 combined scoreless innings. They were feeling it.
While deGrom struck out seemingly everyone, as that’s normal for the two-time reigning NL Cy Young winner, Soroka held his own against arguably the best pitcher in his division. Not bad for the 20-something making his first Opening Day start in his second MLB season. Too bad Chris Martin couldn’t keep his offering to Cespedes in the bottom of the seventh inside of the ballpark.
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Cespedes and his entire family had a barbecue after clocking Martin and putting him in his place. While Cespedes rounded the bases for the first time since July 20, 2018, a rush of blood went to Braves Country’s head, knowing it was in a world of trouble because runs were hard to come by for Atlanta on Friday. New York won 1-0 to stay perfect, ending Atlanta’s bid at perfection.
Yoenis Cespedes proved he’s still got that pop on his bat for the Mets.
Injuries have robbed Cespedes of playing time in the last two years. Heel surgery and a broken foot kept him out of the lineup since that fateful day slightly over two years ago. He had been with the Mets since 2015, helping them win the NL Pennant shortly upon arrival. Cespedes made his second MLB All-Star team with the Mets, earning a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger with them, too.
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His power from the right side of the plate was one of his best attributes as a ball player after defecting from Cuba in 2011. He had played with the Oakland Athletics, the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers before finding a long-term spot with the Mets in 2015. If he can do what he did on Friday evening against a great bullpen like the Braves have, the Mets can win big this year.
It’s been a while since Cespedes went yard, but what a special moment it was for him on Friday.