PHILADELPHIA -- Yoenis Cespedes winced, then dropped his bat, the pain surging through his left hand. For a few moments, he remained on one knee.
Mets trainer Ray Ramirez sprinted from the dugout; manager Terry Collins followed close behind him.
With the playoffs looming, it was the last thing the Mets needed to see, the most transformational bat in the lineup writhing in pain. Yet, that's what they got on Wednesday night, when Cespedes left the game in the third inning against the Phillies.
The club has yet to announce an official diagnosis for Cespedes, who clutched at this left hand shortly after he was struck by an 89-mph Justin De Fratus fastball.