Hot-hitting Cespedes finds himself in middle of rally

MIAMI -- Needing a big bat for their playoff push, the Mets acquired Yoenis Cespedes at the non-waiver Trade Deadline. On Friday night, the hot-hitting outfielder nearly bolstered New York's chances with one swing of that big bat.

The Mets chipped away at a three-run deficit before Cespedes hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning of a 6-5, 11-inning defeat to the Marlins. The loss, coupled with Washington's win, cut New York's National League East lead to five games. Cespedes has opened the final full month of the regular season with a 7-for-15 outburst, hitting three home runs, driving in five runs and scoring five.

That comes after a stretch in which he went 1-for-17 in his previous five games.

Video: NYM@MIA: Cespedes makes tough over-the-shoulder grab

"He had a bit of a blip, but he's too good of a hitter to stay in a slump very long," manager Terry Collins said.

In addition to his home run, Cespedes delivered a sixth-inning triple as part of a 2-for-6 night. That pushed his career total against Miami to 13-for-36 (.361), including 8-for-21 (.381) this season.

Video: NYM@MIA: Cespedes cranks it up to 20 mph for a triple

The homer in the seventh was his 29th of the season and 100th of his career. It came on a full-count, 95-mph fastball off Mike Dunn, landing a projected 410 feet away from home plate while traveling at 106 mph, according to Statcast™.

The blast marked Cespedes' 11th since coming to New York from Detroit, and in 31 games for the Mets so far, he's hitting .296 with 25 runs scored, six doubles, three triples and 28 RBIs.

"He's just swinging it very well right now," Collins said.