The Los Angeles Dodgers slugged three home runs en route to a third consecutive win over the New York Mets, with Yasiel Puig ruffling feathers along the way. Puig’s three-run homer in the fourth inning extended the Dodgers’ lead to 5-1.
It came after the Mets elected to intentionally walk Joc Pederson, putting two on with one out. Rookie right-hander Tyler Pill induced Puig into a grounder in the third which resulted in a T.J. Rivera throwing error.
Puig surmised the Mets were confident he’d again hit the ball on the ground, which factored into what transpired after Puig crushed a 3-1 fastball into the pavilion in left-center field.
His admiration of the home run and deliberate trot around the bases drew the ire of Mets first baseman Wilmer Flores and catcher Travis d’Arnaud.
Flores had words for Puig, who shouted an expletive in Flores’ direction as he was nearly halfway to second base. The exchange between d’Arnaud and Puig at the plate appeared more mild in nature. d’Arnaud shielded his mouth with his catcher’s mitt.
Flores and Jay Bruce continued the conversation by criticizing Puig following the Mets’ 8-2 loss, via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com:
Wilmer Flores: "I don't think [Puig] knows what having respect for the game is. We're playing horribly right now. We don't need his s—."
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) June 22, 2017
Jay Bruce: "Yasiel is very, very talented. But I mean, he's not David Ortiz. This guy doesn't have 500-something home runs."
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) June 22, 2017
ESPN cameras caught Mets outfielder and fellow Cuban native Yoenis Cespedes, and shortstop Jose Reyes having a brief and friendly discussion with Puig between innings. Puig told ESPN’s Marly Rivera that Cespedes suggested he simply run faster after hitting a home run.
“He’s not the only player in baseball that kind of takes a little longer admiring home runs,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I know he did not mean any little disrespect. I don’t think that we’re thinking anything of it.”
As Flores noted, the Mets are in a rut, having lost six of their last seven games and seven of the last 10. They need a win Thursday to avoid being swept by the Dodgers in the four-game series.
Not for nothing, Flores went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts after his exchange with Puig. Flores finished 1-for-5 on the night.
