Rangers' Vigneault rips Mets' Cespedes for leaving World Series game with injury

New York Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault didn't approve of New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes exiting Game 5 of the World Series due to a knee injury.

"How 'bout the one when you take the ball off (the knee) and you take yourself out of the game in the World Series?" Vigneault said while pointing to his knee and rolling his eyes, according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News.

Cespedes fouled a pitch off his left knee in the sixth inning of the Mets' 7-2 loss that clinched the World Series championship for the Kansas City Royals on Sunday night.

The left fielder immediately fell to the ground in pain but remained in the game and flied out to shortstop before departing. He was later diagnosed with a knee contusion.

Several Rangers players have played through major injuries in the playoffs, including captain Ryan McDonagh (broken foot) last spring, and forward Derek Stepan (broken jaw) two summers ago.

The Royals defeated the Mets in five games, while Vigneault and the Rangers lost the Stanley Cup Final in five contests to the Los Angeles Kings in 2014.