Caught Looking, 8/3: Meet the bizarro Mets

By JOHN DORN

Last week, the New York Mets were making their players cry on the field and blowing six-run leads. Today, they're in first place. Make sense?

Well, ahead of their super important weekend series with the Washington Nationals, the team went out and acquired slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers. That, combined with a trio of aces taking the mound, had Citi Field buzzing like never before.

Three home runs in the third were enough to power New York past Washington, and rookie Noah Syndergaard made sure it was so. The 22-year-old went eight innings, striking out nine and walking none and allowing just two runs -- and fanning Bryce Harper to end his night in the top of the eighth.

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By the end of the night, the Mets earned a share of first place in the East, and Citi Field had finally been christened with a meaningful August contest.

Mets 5, Nationals 2


Around the league

Blue Jays 5, Royals 2
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Things got testy in Toronto Sunday, and Josh Donaldson was right in the middle of it all. After getting pitched inside more frequently than he preferred, Donaldson got theatrical, which pitchersEdinson Volquez took exception to.

"He's a little baby," Volquez said. "He was crying like a baby."

The benches cleared, two Jays were ejected, and Toronto won.


Pirates 3, Reds 0

More tempers flared in Cincinnati. Andrew McCutchen was beaned, and so Brandon Phillips wound up on the receiving end of retaliation. The benches cleared, but the Reds weren't able to get anything across on Charlie Morton, who went seven scoreless for the Pirates.


Dodgers 5, Angels 3

The first-place Dodgers capped off their Freeway Series sweep over the Angels with a walkoff homerun off the bat of Andre Either. And all of a sudden, the Angels now trail the Astros by four games in the AL West.


Tigers 6, Orioles 1
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The Tigers jumped out in front of Baltimore early, and really never looked back. Daniel Norris, one of the pitchers acquired from Toronto in the David Price deal, pitched into the eighth and logged the above gem on a poor bunt in the second inning.


Yankees 12, White Sox 3
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The Yankees won by a lot. Also: Mark Teixeira did this weird thing.


Athletics 2, Indians 1

Nothing like an old-fashioned walk-off win -- like Oakland's 10th-inning victory over the Indians. Even if only a handful of fans were there to see it.


Cardinals 3, Rockies 2

More walk-off madness in St. Louis, as new Cardinal Brandon Moss makes a lasting impression with the game-winning hit.


Other scores

• Marlins 5, Padres 2

• Braves 6, Phillies 2

• Rays 4, Red Sox 3

• Astros 4, Diamondbacks 1

• Cubs 4, Brewers 3

• Mariners 4, Twins 1

• Rangers 2, Giants 1