Mets' Cespedes backs away, gives Astros inside-the-park HR

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) In a bizarre play, Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes backed away from a ball that was in plain sight underneath the padding on the wall, giving the Houston Astros an inside-the-park homer Thursday in an 8-5 win over New York.

A matchup of AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel and Mets ace Matt Harvey was overshadowed by the strange home run.

A.J. Reed hit a deep drive in the second inning that landed in the dirt at the base of the wall. The ball was clearly visible, but Cespedes put up his hands to signal it was unplayable and should be a ground rule double.

Reed easily made it to second base, then jogged the rest of the way home while Cespedes stood by.

Second base umpire C.B. Bucknor went out to center field and rolled the ball away from the wall, showing Cespedes he should have made a play.

Keuchel threw five scoreless innings, giving up three hits and striking out five.

Harvey was tagged for six runs on seven hits and four walks in three innings.