DENVER -- The New York Mets acquired Yoenis Cespedes envisioning nights like this.
Cespedes finished 5-for-6 with three homers, seven RBIs, five runs scored and a stolen base in the Mets' 14-9 win Friday night over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
"I've been feeling great all this time," Cespedes said through an interpreter. "But it's like any other good hitter -- they find a night they can lock themselves in and they won't miss the ball and they hit it hard."
Asked if this was the best night he has ever enjoyed at the plate, Cespedes succinctly replied: "SÃ."
Cespedes became the third major leaguer since 1920 with at least three homers, five hits, seven RBIs and a stolen base, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He joined Willie Stargell in 1968 and Carl Reynolds in 1930.
Cespedes nearly became the second player in franchise history with a six-hit game (Edgardo Alfonzo was 6-for-6 on Aug. 30, 1999). However, Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez raced into the gap to run down a ninth-inning shot from Cespedes.
Cespedes, only needing a triple at that point for the cycle, said he was thinking three-bagger on the play.
"All I had in my mind was, 'Go for third,'" said Cespedes, who was acquired July 31 from the Detroit Tigers for highly regarded pitching prospect Michael Fulmer.
Cespedes had hit a relatively modest .274 with two homers and eight RBIs in 73 at-bats as a Met before Friday's outburst.
His grand slam highlighted a six-run second inning against Jon Gray as the Mets built a 7-1 lead. After the Rockies evened the score at 8, Cespedes' third homer of the night -- a two-run shot in the sixth against Christian Friedrich -- retook the lead for the Mets.
"I haven't seen anything like that," manager Terry Collins said. "He just continues to display some of the things that everybody says he can do. When you see it, you just shake your head. He's a special talent. I thought the last ball had a shot.
"Now you just can't wait to see what he's going to do tomorrow."
