Cespedes OK after twisting ankle on first base

ATLANTA -- Another injury struck a familiar denizen of the trainer's room on Friday, when Yoenis Cespedes twisted his left ankle while being picked off first base in the seventh inning of the Mets' 8-6 win over the Braves. Cespedes had skipped the Mets' previous game with a sprained left wrist, and also missed time earlier this year with a sore right hip.
But once again, Cespedes managed to avoid the worst. After spending significant time on the ground and walking off the field alongside trainer Ray Ramirez, Cespedes returned to the field on defense and remained active for the rest of the game. He does not expect to miss any time.
"It bothered me a little once I twisted it at first base, but I'm OK," Cespedes said through an interpreter.
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A likely All-Star who leads the Mets in home runs and RBIs, Cespedes received a cortisone injection in his wrist late Wednesday afternoon, and returned to the starting lineup two days later. But after singling to open the seventh, he landed awkwardly on his left ankle while dashing back to first base on Chris Withrow's pickoff attempt. Cespedes stayed on the ground for over a minute.
Overall this season, he is batting .288 with 18 home runs and 44 RBIs.
The news was also cautiously optimistic with starting pitcher Steven Matz, who had complained of left elbow soreness following his last start. Matz cruised through his first four innings Friday before giving up six runs in the fifth. Afterward, television cameras caught Matz rubbing his elbow on the dugout bench.
When asked about it afterward, Matz hesitated, but offered limited concern regarding his arm.
"It's been tight," Matz said, "but it's fine."