Mets CF Cespedes leaves NLCS with left shoulder soreness

CHICAGO (AP) Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes left Game 4 of the NL Championship Series on Wednesday night with soreness in his left shoulder, and said he expects to be ready for the World Series.

Cespedes played golf in the morning at a local country club and said the round had no impact on his trouble.

''It's part of my routine - I played all year long,'' Cespedes said through a translator after New York beat Chicago 8-3 to complete a four-game sweep. ''I played all of last year and it actually helped with my swing.''

After Cespedes departed, New York finished off the victory that put it in the World Series for the first time since 2000. Cespedes hit .286 with three RBIs in the NLCS and expects to be ready for the World Series that starts Tuesday night at either Kansas City or Toronto.

''This is incredible - this has been the greatest moment of my career this far,'' he said through an interpreter. ''I really don't have words to explain how I'm feeling right now.''

Cespedes walked and scored on Lucas Duda's three-run homer in the first inning of Game 4. He struck out looking in the second and was replaced by Juan Lagares before the bottom half of the inning.

''After the first at-bat when I went back to the dugout, it just started bothering me,'' Cespedes said. ''That's when I felt it.''

Cespedes, who turned 30 on Sunday, was acquired in a July 31 trade with Detroit and helped New York win the NL East title with 17 homers in 57 games with the Mets. He is eligible for free agency after the season.

''Cespedes' shoulder is going to be OK,'' manager Terry Collins said. ''They didn't think there was any damage. They thought an injection would calm it down in a day, so he'll be ready. We're going to work out on Friday and I'm sure he'll be ready for that.''

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Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap