Robinson Cano Goes Off in 3-Homer Game

METS 5 - PADRES 3 

To say this season has been a disappointment for one Robinson Cano would be an understatement.

In 74 games since becoming a member of the Mets, Cano had only six homers, 22 RBI and a .243 batting average -- certainly well below the expectations the Mets had for him when they acquired him along with Edwin Diaz in a trade with the Seattle Mariners; a trade that has become infamous in the eyes of the Mets fanbase.

But on one night, Cano gave Mets fans a reason to smile.

Cano went 4-for-4 and was responsible for all five runs the Mets scored Tuesday against the San Diego Padres. All of them came on home runs. Three of them in fact.

Cano became the 13th player in Mets history to have a three-homer game, the last to do it being Yoenis Cespedes in 2017.  Cano's three-homer game was also the third such performance by a Mets hitter at home, joining Lucas Duda and Kirk Nieuwenhuis, both of whom did it in 2015.

"You don't hit three homers in a game if you are declining," embattled Mets manager Mickey Callaway said of Cano, taking a swipe at the critics who have called Cano's short stay in Mets blue and orange a bust.

With each swing, Cano hit the ball harder and the ball traveled further through the air. It was like he was in a timewarp to his Yankees days.  The first homer, a solo shot, bounced off the facade of the second deck in right to give the Mets a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Two innings later Cano's two-run shot dropped into the bullpens in right center.

Finally, he channeled the classic Cano, launching a pitch several rows back in the upper deck to blow the game open at 5-0.

While there is no guarantee Tuesday's effort is a turning point in Cano's season, it is clear that he is feeling more comfortable at the plate, and the bat speed and power that was a trademark of his career is starting to catch up. Don't believe me? Look it up. In the month of July alone, Cano is hitting .316 with five homers and nine RBI, his most productive stretch since coming to New York.

On the hill Jason Vargas evened his record to 5-5 on the season with six shutout innings of one-hit ball. Vargas who could be a trade trip in a week lowered his ERA to 3.96. As a team the Mets pitching has been excellent since the All-Star Break with a combined 2.83 team ERA.