Wilmer Flores gets first hits, RBIs in Mets' win

Oh, there were more than a few fans in Citi Field Wednesday night sporting pinstriped No. 4 Mets jerseys.

Robin Ventura throwbacks? Nope. Wilmer Flores.

The Mets' infield prospect has played all of two major-league games, but those eager fans likely will boast of the sartorial choice: "I got it first!"

And should Flores live up to the lofty expectations, and become the hitter manager Terry Collins has insisted he can be, any of the fans in attendance Wednesday night can then say: "I saw his firsts!"

First hits, RBIs.

Flores, batting sixth and playing third base, went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in the Mets' 5-0 win over the Rockies Wednesday night. In doing so, he gave all a glimpse of the potential the organization believes he has and hopes he can soon harness.

"I think I was a little more relaxed," Flores said of the difference between Wednesday night and Tuesday, when he went 0-for-4 in his debut. "I think I calmed down a little bit and it worked."

In his first at-bat, Flores lined a single to right-centerfield off starter Jhoulys Chacin in the second inning and came around to score on Omar Quintanilla's hit, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead.

First hit, first run.

"It was a big moment," Flores, 22, said with a wide smile. "I feel great. I couldn't be happier . . . I was just trying to look for a good pitch because [Tuesday] night I was swinging at a lot of balls out of the strike zone."

He popped out to second in the fourth inning and grounded out to third in the sixth. But in the eighth inning, with two outs and the bases loaded, and the Mets looking to blow the game open for Matt Harvey . . .

"I was trying not to think too much," Flores said of his mind-set set during the at-bat. He reminded himself "it's the same game I've been playing."

Funny enough, against the same pitcher he had faced before in Triple-A: reliever Manny Corpas, who pitched for Colorado Springs in the Pacific Coast League earlier this season.

Flores said Corpas got him out in that minor-league at-bat, but remembered "he throws a lot of sliders."

He was ready for it this time. Flores smacked a double to left, scoring Juan Lagares, Marlon Byrd and Ike Davis. That hit gave the Mets a 5-0 lead, which likely seemed insurmountable, with Harvey working his first career shutout.

Flores, whom the Mets signed out of Venezuela in 2007, hit .321 with 15 homers and 86 RBIs this season in Triple-A Las Vegas before the promotion. Yesterday, Collins said "sky's the limit" for him offensively.

Flores, however, played mostly second base and shortstop, so there is uncertainty as to the position he will shift to once David Wright (hamstring) returns and reclaims third base.

"I haven't thought about that yet," Flores said. "I'm just trying to stay out there and be in the lineup, so I'll give 100 percent anywhere they play me."

Flores looked more comfortable at third base in his second go. He committed an error on Tuesday, whiffing on Troy Tulowitzki's ground ball in the sixth, but cleanly fielded the four balls hit to him Wednesday night.

"He definitely looked more calm today and was having fun, and it showed," Eric Young Jr. said. "The future is bright for this organization and these young guys are gonna give the fans something to watch."

And, perhaps, a few more jerseys to purchase.