Cespedes drives in four as Mets take over NL East lead

The New York Mets recalled their top hitting prospect from Triple-A Las Vegas when fellow outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with discomfort in his neck and left shoulder. For the Mets, they need to aim for the division win rather than chasing a wild card because the other teams in the Central and West are better than the Nationals.

Cespedes came into the game 1 for 7 in his first two games with the Mets. Conforto took advantage, pulling a 93 miles per hour fastball over the fence in right to put the Mets up 3-0.It was the 18th homer in the past nine games for the Mets’ offense, which had been anemic before the recent hot streak.The Mets (56-50) won their fourth game in a row. Curtis Granderson knocked in two and scored twice as every starter reached base.

Steve Mitchell/USA Today Sports Rookie Michael Conforto (c.) sets the tone for the Mets with a three-run home run in the 2nd inning.

The New York Mets hope to keep the wins rolling in at the expense of the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.

Tom Koehler (8-8) gave up seven runs in 4 1-3 innings in the Marlins’ most-lopsided loss of the season.

Christian Yelich had three hits including an RBI double for the Marlins.

It was an encouraging sign for the Mets.

“There’s always that worry”, Collins said. 439 in 10 season meetings with the Mets, including 4 for 9 versus Colon.

And Colon also had the offensive support Monday that had been so rare just a week ago.

“It’s so much fun to be a Met right now”, Sunday’s winning pitcher Noah Syndergaard said. “We got him to be that guy in the middle of the lineup who drives in those big runs”.

New York Mets hitter Yoenis Cespedes walks in the dugout after he scored on a double by teammate Wilmer Flores in the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins during a baseball game in Miami, Monday August. 3, 2015.

Conforto drove in the first three in the second. The Mets had just demoted him to make room for their new star, Yoenis Cespedes, and Conforto was caught in the numbers game. Michael Conforto hit his first major league long ball, a three-run 435-foot shot to deep right centerfield, and Bartolo Colon cruised to his tenth win of the season and first since June 12.

The 42-year-old right-hander has been backed by two total runs over his last seven starts but that hasn’t mattered much since he’s 0-6 with a 6.16 ERA.