The honeymoon is over. And Tuesday night, the Mets and Yoenis Cespedes had their first fight.
After the slugging outfielder failed to run to first on a wild pitch after being called out on a check swing in the fourth inning, the Citi Field faithful let Cespedes hear it, voicing their displeasure.
They weren’t Jason Bay/Oliver Perez boos, but they were boos nonetheless.
It was another forgettable evening for Cespedes and the Mets, who fell at home to the hapless Braves, 6-2, losing for the fifth time in eight games on this homestand.
Manager Terry Collins said Cespedes didn’t think he swung on the wild pitch, but also said: “I’d like him to run, yes.”
Cespedes declined comment postgame.
Cespedes, a free agent in the offseason who has said he is looking for a six-year contract, had another ugly evening at the plate, striking out twice against Braves right-hander Matt Wisler as part of an 0-for-3 night. He did walk in the eighth as the Mets staged a rally that went for naught when Michael Cuddyer flied out with the bases loaded and Wilmer Flores grounded out.
The Mets had hoped his slump was behind him, after Cespedes had three hits, including two ringing doubles, in Monday night’s 4-0 victory, but he was back chasing bad pitches against on Tuesday, now 4-for-his-last-27 with nine strikeouts.
More concerning, however, was his lack of hustle, not running to first base on the strikeout in the fourth and failing to lay out for a Wisler single in the third inning that appeared catchable.
Cespedes also has been seen occasionally jogging to first base on ground balls.
Despite all of the rave reviews Cespedes has received since coming over from the Tigers in the blockbuster trade on July 31 — and they have been justified by the way he has carried the Mets to the top of the National League East — he has struggled at Citi Field. Cespedes has hit just five of his 17 home runs as a Met in 84 at-bats at home, where he is batting just .223.
Fortunately for the Mets, they have just one home game left before heading out for a seven-game road trip, where Cespedes has been a lethal force.
