PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The New York Mets didn’t care who was on the mound. They kept swinging and scoring.
Jose Bautista hit a grand slam and had a career-high seven RBIs and the Mets set a franchise record for runs, forcing the Phillies to use two position players for the final three innings of a 24-4 victory in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday.
Corey Oswalt (2-2) allowed four solo homers in six innings, Amed Rosario hit a leadoff homer and had three RBIs and the Mets took advantage of four errors to score 11 unearned runs.
Even reliever Jerry Blevins got his first career hit, a line-drive RBI single off infielder Scott Kingery.
“There’s nothing better,” Blevins said. “It’s something you dream about as a kid. When I tell the story, I’ll say I turned around a 95 (mph fastball). It’s pretty awesome.”
The Mets have scored more than 15 runs in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history. They beat Baltimore 16-5 Wednesday night.
Rhys Hoskins, Maikel Franco, Nick Williams and Jorge Alfaro went deep for the Phillies, who entered two games behind Atlanta in the NL East.
Outfielder Roman Quinn gave up a homer to Michael Conforto on his second pitch — a 79 mph fastball. He got five outs, gave up seven runs and threw 42 pitches. Kingery went the final 1 1/3 innings and allowed two runs.
“In that situation, our best relievers aren’t excited about coming in and our position players enjoy it,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. “Our strategy is to be in the best position to win the second game.”
Mets right fielder Brandon Nimmo left the game after injuring his left index finger hitting a grounder to third base with two outs and the bases loaded in the third inning. Nimmo fell to the ground as the ball rolled to Franco, who was late tagging third but threw to first to easily get the out. X-rays on Nimmo’s finger were negative and he said he’ll have an MRI on Friday. Bautista replaced him.
“I just said: ‘Oh, crud,” Nimmo said. “It hit my knuckle.”
Phillies starter Ranger Suarez (1-1) gave up eight runs — four earned — and 11 hits in four innings. Mark Leiter Jr. allowed seven unearned runs and four hits in one inning.
After Alfaro’s shot cut it to 5-4, the Mets had a 10-run fifth. Suarez balked in a run and exited after Bautista followed with an RBI single. Another run scored on Alfaro’s throwing error on Oswalt’s sacrifice and Rosario drove one in on a fielder’s choice grounder.
Hoskins then dropped Austin Jackson’s two-out fly ball for an error and another run scored. After Wilmer Flores’ RBI single, Bautista connected for his 10th homer. Bautista had a chance to hit another slam when he faced Quinn in the eighth but walked on a 3-2 pitch over his head. He added an RBI double off Kingery.
“We didn’t play good defense,” Kapler said. “We put pressure on our pitchers to get additional outs.”
RUN BARRAGE
The Mets’ previous record was 23 runs at the Cubs on Aug. 16, 2017.
DOMINATING PHILLY
The Mets are 42-18 over their past 60 games at Citizens Bank Park since 2012.
GOING DEEP
Bautista has 13 seasons of double-digit homers since 2005. Only Albert Pujols has more with 14.
TRAINER’S ROOM
METS: It’s uncertain how much time Nimmo will miss.
PHILLIES: Lefty Aaron Loup (left forearm strain) and lefty Austin Davis (low back tightness) were placed on the 10-day disabled list. Suarez and right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. were recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
UP NEXT
RHP Zach Eflin (8-4, 3.57 ERA) goes for the Phillies and LHP Steven Matz (5-9, 4.35) starts for the Mets in the second game.
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