Mets set franchise single-game home run, extra-base hit records in rout of Phillies
Wilmer Flores of the New York Mets celebrates his three-run home run with Daniel Murphy and Yoenis Cespedes in the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Aug. 24, 2015 in Philadelphia. Credit: Getty Images / Drew Hallowell
It took a quick check of the Liberty Bell in rightfield and the cheesesteak stands lining the concourse to confirm the Mets really were the visiting team Monday night.
Moments after the Mets set a pair of franchise records with a come-from-behind 16-7 victory over the Phillies, a sizable contingent of fans stayed behind to chant Wilmer Flores' name.
The reborn infielder hit two of the Mets' franchise-record eight home runs and three of their franchise-record 15 extra base hits.
"It's really fun being here right now," said Flores, who finished 3-for-6 with five RBIs, three runs and a double. "Even though we're in Philadelphia, it feels like we're playing in New York."
Citizens Bank Park is the Phillies' home stadium, but lately the Mets (68-56) have owned it. They have won nine of 10 against the Phillies (50-75) this year. The eight home runs broke the franchise mark of seven set April 19, 2005, also in Philadelphia.
Returning David Wright started the barrage in the second with a solo home run to deep left. Juan Lagares, Flores (twice), Travis d'Arnaud, Michael Cuddyer, Daniel Murphy and Yoenis Cespedes added homers of their own to help the Mets erase the worst start of Jacob deGrom's career.
The 15 extra-base hits broke the franchise record of 13, last reached at Arizona on Aug. 24, 2005. The 11 combined home runs tied a National League record. The feat has been achieved five times, but not since May 17, 1979.
DeGrom contributed to that last record by allowing three early home runs. The righthander gave up a career-high seven runs (six earned) in 22/3 innings, the shortest outing of his career. His ERA went from from 1.98 to 2.29, the highest it has been since July 2. He's now tied with Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers for the second-lowest ERA in the National League.
DeGrom, who has never lost to the Phillies, exited with his team down 7-2. Sean Gilmartin stemmed the tide with 31/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Flores got deGrom off the hook in the top of his fifth with his second home run of the game, a three-run shot to left that put the Mets ahead for good 8-7. Flores, who was nearly traded to Milwaukee at the end of July, has 14 RBIs, 16 runs, three homers and a .344 batting average since the trade deadline.
"What happened to me was the craziest thing I've ever seen in baseball," Flores said. "If you're saying it has something to do with it, I don't know. I can't tell you whether it's because of that or not . . . It's in the past now."
Cuddyer homered two batters later to make it 9-7. Murphy hit a two-run shot in the sixth to make it 11-7. A two-run double by d'Arnaud in the sixth and an RBI single from Lagares in the seventh extended the lead to 14-7. Murphy doubled to right in the ninth to break the franchise extra-base hit record. Cespedes homered to deep left one batter later to establish a new home run mark.
"I have not experienced anything like that," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "You look at each other and you're just like, wow.' "
