Amazing Away Games: Coors Field. Cespy's Historic 5-Hit, 3-Homer Show

Few players in modern Mets history evoke a range of emotions quite like Yoenis Cespedes. To remember his time in Flushing is to recall two distinct eras bound into one complex legacy: the transcendent superhero who ignited an unforgettable 2015 World series run with clutch hits every night, and the enigmatic star whose later years were marred by contract drama, baffling injuries (wild boar, anyone?), and a sudden exit.

At his best, Cespedes was a force of nature whose bat flips, neon compression sleeves, and canon-arm throws captivated the hungry fan base. On August 21, 2015, he was certainly at his best. Remembering Edgardo Alfonzo's 6-hit, 3-homer night in the Astrodome, this was either the best or second-best offensive performance in Mets history!

August 21, 2015. Mets 14, Colorado Rockies 9

At the close of July 2015, the Mets sat in second place in the NL East. They were 53-50, two games behind Washington. But they were a negative 6 in run differential. GM Sandy Alderson had decided to add a quality bat.

He had already picked up bench pieces Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson, but he needed that middle order monster, and he got his man by accident.

Names like Carlos Gomez, Jay Bruce, and Justin Upton had fallen through, so he was stuck with the questionable Cespedes. Questionable because of perceived attitude issues that had already seen "La Potencia" (The Power) play on three Major League teams in his first three and a half years since coming over from Cuba. The Power had already won two All-Star Home Run Derbies, including the one at Citi Field in 2013.

The starting pitcher for the Rockies this night was Jon Gray, who would go on to post double digit victory totals with records at or above .500 in his first four years. Quite the feat in Denver.

The Mets scored in the first on a double by Cespedes, a line shot up the right-center field gap. He scored on a single by Lucas Duda.

Charlie Blackmon singled to start the first for the Rockies, but was quickly picked off by Mets starting pitcher, the uber athletic Bartolo Colon. After a second out, Carlos Gonzalez tomahawked a line drive to deep right for a game tying homer. Gonzalez, perhaps helped by the thin air, went on to have quite a career with over 200 homers, 3 Gold Gloves, and 3 All-Star appearances. Look at his 2010 season...34/117/.336! He would go on to hit 40 homers in this 2015 campaign.

The Mets thought they had busted the game open with a 6-spot in the second, but a 6-run lead in Denver is nothing.

Johnson singled, Michael Conforto walked, and Big Sexy himself was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Curtis Granderson and Daniel Murphy each singled for an RBI apiece. Cespedes then hit a Grand Slam to cap the inning. This was an opposite field shot that hit the top of the right field wall and took a high bounce over for the dinger. Watch the video, Gary Cohen initially called it a catch.

Cespedes would come to close to a "home run cycle." He would hit a Slam, a two-run shot and a solo shot. He would have been the first to accomplish this feat.

He did become the FIRST in major league history to have 5 hits, 3 homers, 7 RBI, 5 runs scored, and a stolen base in a single game. That's a lot of crooked numbers.

Take away the 5 runs scored, and he is still only the THIRD to have the hits, homers, RBI, and stolen base total in the same game. It was only done by Willie Stargell in 1968 (he was young and could steal a base) and Carl Reynolds in 1930.

Colon gave one back immediately in the second on a homer by Ben Paulsen. The 6-foot 4-inch first baseman would only play 186 games in the majors, all for the Rockies, but hit 16 homers and hit .271. Would he get $10 million a year for that today?

The Rockies would close the gap to 7-4 before Cespedes led off the fourth with a bomb to dead center, into the trees, off new Rockie pitcher Christian Bergman.

Colon, evidently pitching on fumes in the fourth, gave up a three-run homer to Nolan Arenado to keep the Mets in front by only an 8-7 score. He was relieved by Sean Gilmartin, who got out of the fourth with no trouble.

Gilmartin was married to Kayleigh McEnany, who was the White House Press Secretary during President Trump's first tenure in office. Gilmartin was the winning pitcher in this game.

For psycho baseball fans like me, she is not related to Big Red Machine closer Will McEnaney, who spells his name differently. (Raise your hand if you were thinking the same thing. Quick, who was Cincy's other closer? Right! Rawly Eastwick).

Gilmartin did find trouble in the fifth when he allowed a hit by D.J. LeMahieu and a triple by Nick Hundley to tie the game at 8 in the fifth. (See, I told you a 6 run lead meant nothing in Denver).

Let's play the relation game again. Even though Nick is also a catcher, he is NOT related to Todd or his father Randy, both catchers.

The Rockies weren't able to savor the tie for long, as after Murphy walked in the sixth, Cespedes homered again for a Mets 10-8 lead that they would never give up. This homer was a blast to right-center. If you're keeping score as I am, that is three homers and 4 extra-base hits by the sixth inning.

For a relatively short amount of time, there was NO METS HITTER who was as clutch and dynamic as Cespedes was for the team. He hit the ball harder than anyone and was responsible for more wins than anyone. I think he is mostly forgotten in Mets history.

Take a look at David Wright's final at bat. As he is going down the dugout line hugging everyone, which Met gets the loudest hand? It's Cespedes by a mile.

Debate me! Who was as dominant and valuable in a short time? Piazza? Beltran? Strawberry? Alonso? I'll listen, but for the last 44 games in 2015, there was nothing like Cespy on fire. Retire # 52!

The Mets struck for back-to-back homers in the seventh by Travis d'Arnaud and Conforto off of Gonzalez German for a 12-8 lead.

German played his first two seasons for the Mets before being purchased by the Yankees and then by the Rockies. He is NO RELATION to German Gonzalez (not a joke) who pitched a few games for Minnesota in the 80's. He is also not related to Yankee Perfect Game pitcher Domingo German.

The Rockies would get their final run off of Hansel Robles in the 7th on an Arenado double, a balk, and a LeMahieu RBI grounder. If you remember Hansel, he would point to the sky on a pop up to "help" the fielders. The problems started when he started getting absolutely tattooed and would also point on Ruthian drives well over the fence. Everyone later became Babe Ruth when they faced poor Hansel.

Side personal note: Babe is buried across the street from my house! Really. I'll show you if you come by. Guess who is right behind Babe? Alfred Manuel (Billy) Martin.

The Mets scored again in the 8th (it is Colorado) when Cespedes hit a tapper through the second base hole, as the Rockies were in the shift (I'll explain that another time, kids!). He went to second on a grounder, stole third, and came home on a Wilmer Flores double to left off Tommy Kahnle.

Believe it or not, Kahnle was still pitching in 2026, making a few appearances for Boston.

Wilmer was not even supposed to be on the team! He was originally traded on the night before Cespedes arrived. He was traded to Milwaukee for Gomez, but Gomez failed his physical, Alderson pivoted to Yoenis, and the Mets went to the World Series. Maybe the Peralta trade will turn out as successful!!!

What do you think was the best Mets offensive performance in their history? Write it in the comments.