WATCH: Rotund Righty Bartolo Colon Strokes RBI Double
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon says he wasn't thinking about third base.
But the crowd at Citi Field -- heck, the world -- would have loved to see him try.
The hefty right-hander, whose at-bats were once must-watch for all the wrong reasons, smacked an RBI double against the Miami Marlins to break a 1-1 tie on Sunday, raising his average to .143 and helping his own cause en route to a National League-best eighth win. Colon trotted easily into second as the ball rolled to the center field wall.
"It's really important to get hits," Colon said, according to MLB.com. "If we execute in that moment, we'll be able to help the team win more games."
The 42-year-old tied a career high with three RBIs -- last accomplished in 2002 -- and hit only the second double of his career. He's never had a triple.
Colon, who signed with the Mets after a long career in the American League, hit .032 with 33 strikeouts last year.
"Nobody likes to be embarrassed at any level, and he knows people are laughing at him when he hits," manager Terry Collins said after Sunday's 4-3 win. "He has taken the offensive side seriously. And hopefully, he keeps it going a little bit."
Mets catcher Anthony Recker said fans underestimate the athleticism of Colon. The pitcher is 5-0 with the Mets when he reaches base on a hit, according to the team's official website.
"He's got his physical appearance, which is less than ideal," Recker said. "But obviously, he knows what he's doing out there. He's done it for a really long time."
