Cespedes hits walk-off HR, celebrates wearing gum bucket

NEW YORK - Yoenis Cespedes homered with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the New York Mets a 2-1 victory over the Miami Marlins in the first game of a pivotal series between National League playoff contenders Monday night.

Cespedes, who sat out Sunday's loss to Philadelphia after his nagging right quadriceps flared up, launched a no-doubt drive to left-center on a 1-1 pitch from Nick Wittgren.

The slugger tossed his bat high in the air and then chucked away his helmet as he neared home plate and was swarmed by jubilant teammates.

It was the latest offensive flop for the slumping Marlins, who have dropped five of seven and mustered only 20 runs in their last nine games.