August 21st 2015 -- Mets 14, Rockies 9

Friday night in Denver Yoenis Cespedes had a career night going 5 for 6 with 3 home runs and 7 RBI. The Mets outlast and out-slug the Rockies 14-9.  The Mets never trailed in the game but did lose an early 7-1 lead.  In the top of the 2^nd with the game tied at 1, the Mets scored 6 times.  Kelly Johnson singled, Michael Conforto walked and Bartolo Colon was hit on the right wrist to load the bases.  Curtis Granderson singled home Johnson.  Daniel Murphy then singled home Conforto. Cespedes hit his first of 3 dingers on the game, this one a grand slam and the Mets lead by 6.  Both starters, Colon and Jon Gray were not long for this game. The Rockies made it 7-2 on a solo homer by Ben Paulsen, his 9^th in the 2^nd. In the 3^rd the Rockies made it 7-4 on a RBI double by Nolan Arenado and a RBI infield single by D.J. LaMahieu.  In the top of the 4^th Cespedes 2^nd of the game, this one a solo shot made it 8-4 Mets.  In the 4^th Arenado clubbed a 3 run homer, his 30^th and it was 8-7. An RBI triple by Nick Hundley in the 5^th tied the game at 8.  In the 6^th Cespedes hit his 3^rd homer of the game a two run shot to make it 10-8.  In the 7^th Travis d’Arnaud and Michael Conforto hit back to back solo shots to make it 12-8, for d’Arnaud his 7^th and Conforto his 3^rd.  A fielder’s choice by LaMahieu in the bottom of the 7^th made it 12-9 Mets.  In the 8^th the Mets made it 13-9 on an RBI double by Wilmer Flores. In the top of the 9^th a sac-fly by Murphy made it 14-9 as the Mets scored in 7 of the 9 innings. Colon only lasted 3 2/3 allowing 9 hits 7 runs (all earned) walking 2 and striking out 1.  Sean Gilmartin went 2 ½ allowing a run getting win he’s now 2-1. Hansel Robles pitched 1 frame and allowed a run.  Tyler Clippard pitched a scoreless 8^th and Jeurys Familia pitched the 9^th. Cespedes had a monster day with 3 homers, 7 RBI. 5 runs scored and a stolen base. He now has 5 homers as a Met and 23 on the year.  Flores, Johnson and Granderson all had 2 hits apiece (both of Johnson’s came in the 2^nd inning), Lucas Duda who left the game mid-way had an RBI single in the 1^st.   Gray, a hot rookie, only lasted 1 2/3 innings allowing 7 earned runs.  He started the game with a 2.40 ERA and leaves with an ERA of 5.94. Christian Friedrich takes the loss falling to 0-4. Former Mets Jose Reyes went 0 for 5. Carlos Gonzalez also had a solo homer, his 29^th on the year in the first. With the win the Mets improve to 65-56 on the year and 23-35 on the road.  The Nats lost to the Brewers 10-3 Friday, so the Mets now lead the NL East by 5 full games.  Saturday night is game two of this 3 games set as Jonathon Niese (7-9 3.50) goes for the Mets, Chris Rusin (4-5 3.99) goes for Colorado.