WASHINGTON _ Yoenis Cespedes hobbled off the field in the first inning of Friday's game against the Nationals with what the team later called a strained right hamstring, making him just the latest casualty in a season that has been torpedoed by an avalanche of health woes.
Cespedes, who has an extensive history of leg injuries, was standing on second when rookie Dominic Smith hit a grounder up the middle that struck second base umpire Andy Fletcher.
By rule, it was ruled a dead ball, entitling the runners to move up one base. But the play was behind Cespedes, who bolted on contact and ran hard in an attempt to score. As he approached third base, Cepsedes pulled up then hobbled home.
Collins and trainer Ray Ramirez emerged from the dugout to check on Cespedes, who was doubled over in apparent pain. He walked off the field under his own power though he looked to have trouble putting weight on his right leg. Manager Terry Collins pulled the outfielder from the game almost immediately.
It was yet another troubling sight for the Mets, who earlier in the day placed Michael Conforto on the disabled list after the outfielder dislocated his left (non-throwing) shoulder and tore his capsule on a routine swing and miss.
The latest injury simply adds on to what has been a lost season for Cespedes, who signed a four-year, $110 million deal in the offseason. He had already missed six weeks with a left hamstring strain and a right quad injury that he reaggravated during his minor league rehab.
Cespedes began play hitting .292 with 17 homers and 42 RBIs.
