Mets 14, Brewers 1
NEW YORK -- The New York Mets snapped out of an offensive slump in historic fashion Saturday night when they scored 10 runs in the fourth inning of a 14-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field.
The 10 runs in the fourth inning equaled the Mets' total in their previous five games -- all losses. But they busted out by sending 15 men to the plate during a 32-minute parade against Brewers right-handers Matt Garza and Brandon Kintzler.
With the resounding win, the Mets (21-16) ensured they would remain at least a half-game ahead of the Washington Nationals in the National League East. The Brewers (13-24) fell to 6-6 under new manager Craig Counsell.
The big inning -- the fourth 10-run inning in franchise history and the first since the Mets scored a team-record 11 runs in the sixth inning of a 13-7 win over the Chicago Cubs on July 16, 2006 -- was keyed by a grand slam by shortstop Wilmer Flores.
Flores became the first National League position player ever to start a non-interleague game batting ninth and hit a grand slam.
Flores' blast to left-center field was preceded by a single by right-handed pitcher Jacob deGrom, who also singled later in the inning to become only the second Mets pitcher ever with two hits in an inning.
Left fielder Michael Cuddyer, who began the inning with a single, also had two hits in the barrage.
The Mets led 1-0 entering the fourth and extended the lead with one out when Cuddyer broke for home on a grounder to short by catcher Kevin Plawecki. The throw from Luis Sardinas beat Cuddyer but was wide to the third base side.
After Flores' grand slam, the Mets reloaded the bases against Garza via singles from right fielder Curtis Granderson and center fielder Juan Lagares and a walk by first baseman Lucas Duda. Cuddyer chased Garza with a two-run double and second baseman Daniel Murphy greeted Kintzler with another two-run double.
Third baseman Eric Campbell, who accounted for the first out, got in on the fun with an RBI single. Plawecki struck out and deGrom singled again before Flores grounded out to finally end the inning.
It was the Mets' first 10-run inning at home since June 30, 2000, when they scored 10 runs in the eighth inning to stun the Atlanta Braves 11-8 at Shea Stadium.
Garza (2-5) ended up being charged with a career-high 10 runs, 10 hits and three walks while striking out two in 3 1/3 innings. His ERA soared from 4.04 to 5.72.
The Mets added three runs in the seventh on a leadoff homer by Plawecki and a two-run blast by Granderson, who finished with three hits.
DeGrom improved to 4-4 after allowing one run, five hits and one walk while striking out six in six innings. He had a shutout until the sixth when shortstop Luis Sardinas singled, went to third on a single by center fielder Carlos Gomez and scored on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Ryan Braun.
Sardinas and Gomez had two hits apiece.
NOTES: The Mets recalled INF Eric Campbell from Triple-A Las Vegas and placed 2B Dilson Herrera on the 15-day disabled list with a broken tip of his right middle finger. Herrera, the 13th Mets player on the disabled list this year, was hurt fielding a grounder during batting practice on Friday. ... Mets 3B David Wright, who was placed on the disabled list April 15 with a hamstring strain and had his rehab slowed by a sore back, could resume baseball activities on Monday. ... SS Luis Sardinas made his first start for the Brewers on his 22nd birthday. ... Brewers RHP Matt Garza batted eighth, one night after RHP Kyle Lohse batted eighth. It was the first time the Brewers batted the pitcher eighth in consecutive games since Aug. 23-24, 2009.