Sometimes, the hired gun doesn’t parachute in and save the day all by himself.
Sometimes, his mere presence makes it easier for someone else to be the hero.
So went Yoenis Cespedes’ Mets debut Saturday night, which will be recalled fondly by the team’s fans not so much for what Cespedes did as what he witnessed, along with everyone else. For it was Lucas Duda who carried the Mets (54-50) on his back in this critical game, powering the home team to a 3-2 victory over the Nationals (54-48) — and pulling them within one game of the lead in the National League East — with two solo homers and the game-winning double.