Mets ride 10-run inning to pour it on Brewers
NEW YORK -- Propelled by a historically potent fourth inning, the Mets exceeded their combined run total over the past five games to snap out of a three-week offensive slump and drop the Brewers, 14-1, on Saturday night at Citi Field.
New York sent 15 batters to the plate in the fourth, scoring 10 runs on nine hits. Kevin Plawecki's RBI fielder's choice started the scoring against Brewers starter Matt Garza, and Eric Campbell's run-scoring single off Brandon Kintzler finished it. In between, Michael Cuddyer and Daniel Murphy both doubled in two runs, Wilmer Flores launched his second career grand slam and Jacob deGrom collected two of his three hits to back his fourth win.
"We needed it in a lot of ways," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "First of all, we had to get back in the win column, and second, we had to get the bats out. That was really important to put some big hits up. Hit the home runs. Break out of it a little bit and get some consistency on the offensive side."
Video: MIL@NYM: Terry Collins on big 14-1 win over Brewers
The unexpected barrage marked the fourth time in Mets history the club scored at least 10 runs in an inning and the first since July 16, 2006, when New York tallied 11 in the sixth inning against the Cubs. The last time the Mets scored exactly 10 runs in an inning was June 30, 2000, at Shea Stadium against Atlanta in a game that's remember for one of the largest comebacks in franchise history.
This outburst sent the Brewers to their most lopsided loss this season and helped snap New York's five-game losing streak. deGrom set a career-high with three hits while holding the Brewers to just five of their own over six innings of one-run ball.
"It's on me," said Garza, who allowed a career-high 10 earned runs in 3 1/3 innings. "My job is to go deep; I didn't. I didn't get anywhere close to what I wanted to accomplish. You just 'wear it' and move on."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Flores fireworks: Team leaders in home runs don't typically bat ninth, especially in the National League. But that's where Flores hit for Mets manager Terry Collins, insisting it wasn't a slight on the young shortstop. Flores responded with two hits, including his sixth homer, which punctuated the 10-run fourth and broke the game open. Defensive struggles persist, but Flores is tied for the Major League lead in homers among shortstops.
Video: MIL@NYM: Flores belts a grand slam to pad lead
Jacob deGwynn: Flores batted ninth because for the second time this season Collins batted deGrom eighth. The former college shortstop swung like one Saturday, spraying three opposite-field singles to become the first Mets pitcher with a three-hit game since Chris Young in 2011. deGrom's second-inning single drove in the game's first run and he added two more hits in New York's scorching fourth. That made him the first Major League pitcher to collect two hits in one inning since Adam Wainwright on April 13, 2013. More >
Video: MIL@NYM: deGrom goes six, collects three hits in win
Rookie mistake: The Brewers had a chance to short-circuit the Mets' electric rally when, with two runners in scoring position and one out, they pulled the infield in against Plawecki. Plawecki hit a sharp bouncer to shortstop Luis Sardinas, whose throw home was high and wide, allowing Cuddyer to score the inning's first run. An out there would have kept the score at 1-0 and brought the pitcher, deGrom, to the plate with two outs.
Video: MIL@NYM: Cuddyer scores on fielder's choice
"I'm going to have to back and look on it, but [Cuddyer] needs to be out if we are playing in," manager Craig Counsell said. "It was a pretty well-struck ground ball. We should be able to get an out there with a good throw."
Not done yet: Plawecki and Curtis Granderson homered in the seventh inning to bring the Mets' run total to 14, matching the most scored at Citi Field since it opened in 2009. The Mets scored 14 runs at Citi once previously, on June 22, 2010, against Detroit.
Video: MIL@NYM: Granderson blasts a two-run homer to right
QUOTABLE
"I've had [a poor start] before, and obviously you hate having it, but they happen. It's like a fight. You get knocked down, and it's how you get back up. That's all it is. Am I going to lay down or am I going to get back up? I like getting back up. That's why I'm here." -- Garza More >
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Had one more run scored in the bottom of the fourth inning, it would have been truly historic. The Mets' franchise record for runs scored in a single inning is 11, set in the sixth of a July 16, 2006, win over Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Brewers' club record for runs allowed in a single inning is 12, set in the sixth of an Aug. 7, 1998, loss in Cincinnati.
WHAT'S NEXT
Brewers: Wily Peralta will seek to continue his recent streak of quality starts when the Brewers and Mets finish their three-game series Sunday afternoon at 1:10 ET/12:10 CT. After struggling to a 5.68 ERA in his first three outings of the season, Peralta has delivered four consecutive quality starts, with a 2.42 ERA in that span.
Mets: Noah Syndergaard makes his much anticipated Citi Field debut in Sunday's series finale. The Mets' No. 1 prospect showed an upper-90s fastball and impressive breaking-ball command before fading toward the end of his Major League debut Tuesday at Wrigley Field.
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