Cespedes exits after getting hit in left hand; X-rays negative

Philadelphia Phillies’ Cameron Rupp, left, reacts after dodging a pitch from New York Mets’ Hansel Robles as catcher Travis d’Arnaud, center, looks on during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, September 30, 2015, in Philadelphia. But he allowed a two-run homer to Darin Ruf that wound up being the difference.

X-rays were negative on Cespedes, struck on the ring and middle fingers. “We were very relieved that he’s OK”. Eickhoff, 25, who came over from the Texas organization as a Triple-A hopeful in the Cole Hamels deal just prior to the non-waiver trade deadline, left after seven innings with a four-hit shutout intact that included 10 strikeouts.

“It’s been great”, Eickhoff said. “As much as they beat up on us all season, it feels good to sweep them”.

Eickhoff’s third win of his rookie season was aided by a pair of home runs.

For years, the mantra around Citi Field was how the New York Mets wanted to play “meaningful games” in September.

De Fratus hit Yoenis Cespedes in the hand with a pitch and because there was nobody in the crowd, there was an audible yelp. Mets starter Logan Verrett hit Odubel Herrera in the back in the Phillies’ half of the fifth. The benches cleared, and Robles and Collins were ejected. Robles called it a pitch that got away.

He told manager Terry Collins he’d be able to play in the team’s series finale against the Phillies tonight, but Collins will opt to rest the slugger.

The Mets, who are fighting with the Dodgers for home field advantage, need to get in all their games for seeding purposes in the National League Division Series. The Mets hold the tiebreaker in the event the teams finish with identical records. Ken Roberts (1-1) retired a single batter to earn the victory, his first in the major leagues.

“Obviously everybody can see the nasty curveball he throws; it’s a swing-and-a-miss pitch”, Mackanin said.

“It was an ugly game”, Collins said. It’s over. We’ll worry about tomorrow and get ourselves ready to go. “We’re going to go back home”. That would be the only blemish on Buchanan’s night, as he allowed just the one run on six hits in 4 2/3 innings in the no-decision. Tempers ran high as ejections were made. Left-hander Steven Matz, scratched from Thursday’s start with upper back stiffness, was examined by a doctor, diagnosed with spasms and given medication. An inning after Cespedes departed, shortstop Wilmer Flores also left the game. Rookie Jerad Eickhoff gets his last start of the season and third versus the Mets. It was just one of those situations where you had a big situation and a lefty-righty matchup and (Lucas) Duda had already popped me earlier in the game. “That wouldn’t be a nice thing to sit on in the offseason”. Under far less unfortunate circumstances, Phillies fans were treated to a similar experience this afternoon as, by a few estimates, 1,200 or so fans showed up to watch the Phillies play the Mets in a near-meaningless October baseball game.

Robles will unlikely file an appeal considering the suspension will keep him out of the final three regular season games while he will still be playoff eligible.