NEW YORK -- When their bus pulled back into Citi Field late Sunday following a road trip all but devoid of offense, the Mets ranked dead last in baseball in runs over the past calendar month -- not to mention bottom five in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging.
So desperate were the Mets for an offensive spark that they were willing to gamble with their most expensive player's health, keeping Yoenis Cespedes away from the disabled list despite a strained right hip flexor. If the Mets found themselves in a close game Tuesday, team officials said, they would ask Cespedes to pinch-hit. If not, he would sit.
Whether that might have been a gamble worth taking, the Mets will never know. They pummeled Jaime Garcia for six runs in 3 2/3 innings en route to a 12-2 win over the Blue Jays, submitting easily their best offensive output of May. As Cespedes watched from afar, the Mets scored eight runs in the fourth and fifth innings alone, eclipsing their output from the final four games of their road trip combined.
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"We needed it," manager Mickey Callaway said. "We had a lot of production from the bottom of the lineup, which kind of set the table for the top. It was really good to see. A lot of good at-bats."
Contributions indeed came from every part of the lineup. It was starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard who provided the Mets' first two runs, rapping out an RBI double in the second inning and a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Amed Rosario matched his career high with three hits, coming within inches of his first home run of the season. Juan Lagares collected four hits of his own, while Devin Mesoraco homered and reached base in all five of his plate appearances.
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About the only disappointment for the Mets came on the mound, where Syndergaard's enigmatic season continued with two runs in five innings -- fine by most standards, but far from the preseason National League Cy Young Award candidate's best. Even that was plenty good enough for Syndergaard to pick up the victory, however, snapping his five-start winless streak.
"I felt great in the first inning -- some glimpses of the old Noah were coming out," Syndergaard said. "But after that, I just had to grind it out."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Always a threat with the bat, Syndergaard opened the scoring Tuesday with a double into the right-field corner, plating Mesoraco -- thanks in part to a weak throw from right fielder Teoscar Hernandez. It was Syndergaard's 10th career extra-base hit. Since Syndergaard's rookie season, only Madison Bumgarner, Adam Wainwright, Jacob Arrieta and Zack Greinke have more among NL pitchers.
"I just hit it and ran," Syndergaard said. "Thank God he scored."
SOUND SMART
The Mets improved to 12-0 all-time against the Blue Jays in Queens. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last team to win its first 12 home games versus a single opponent was the Orioles, who won 14 straight against the Mariners from 1977-79.
The Mets are also 186-177 all-time in Interleague Play, giving them the highest winning percentage (.512) of any National League club.
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Already 1-for-1 with three walks on the night, Mesoraco lofted a two-run homer -- his second long ball as a Met -- over the left-field fence in the eighth. Mesoraco, who began his Mets tenure 0-for-8 but has since gone 3-for-7 with two homers, credits hitting coach Pat Roessler for helping him "quiet" his mechanics at the plate.
"It was very cool," Mesoraco said after his first home game at Citi Field. "You want to make a good first impression, and tonight I was able to do that."
HE SAID IT
"I feel like I haven't been living up to my expectations for myself, or for other people. It's all about going out there and grinding it out. Once it clicks, I'll be really looking forward to that." -- Syndergaard, on his start to the season
MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
The score was tied when Rosario stepped to the plate with two men on base in the fourth, ripping a 383-foot shot off the right-center field fence. The ball struck the orange line on the top of the wall and bounced back into play for an RBI double, prompting the umpires to intiate a crew-chief review. An overturned call would have given Rosario a three-run homer and the Mets a three-run lead. As it was, Rosario settled for a one-run advantage.
UP NEXT
Alternating good and bad starts for most of this season, Zack Wheeler will look to make it two strong ones in a row when he takes the mound for the Wednesday finale of this two-game series at Citi Field. Wheeler will oppose another lefty, J.A. Happ, in the 1:10 p.m. ET game, potentially giving Lagares an extended run in the starting lineup.