NATIONAL LEAGUE
Mets 16, Phillies 7
PHILADELPHIA -- David Wright's return sparked a home run derby.
Wright hit a long home run on his first major-league swing in 133 days, Wilmer Flores went deep twice and the New York Mets set a franchise record with eight home runs in a 16-7 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.
Yoenis Cespedes, Juan Lagares, Travis d'Arnaud, Daniel Murphy and Michael Cuddyer also connected for the NL East leaders, who extended their cushion to a season-best 5 1/2 games over second-place Washington.
"An unbelievable team win," Wright said. "When you're thinking about coming back, and I had a lot of time to think about it, you think of different scenarios, and you think of your first at-bat and what it's going to feel like, and try to keep your emotions in check. It couldn't have been any better for me, personally, my first at-bat."
New York set a franchise record with 15 extra-base hits -- 7 doubles and 8 home runs. The teams tied an NL record with 11 combined homers.
"I have not experienced something like that," Mets Manager Terry Collins said.
Fresh off scoring 33 runs in a three-game sweep at Colorado, the Mets slugged their way back from a 7-2 deficit after Jacob deGrom's shortest career outing. The 2014 NL Rookie of the Year lasted just 2 2-3 innings and allowed a career-high seven runs on eight hits. His ERA rose from 1.98 to 2.29.
Sean Gilmartin (3-1) had four strikeouts in 3 1-3 scoreless innings to earn the victory as the Mets (68-56) moved 12 games over .500 for the first time since finishing 89-73 in 2008.
"You've been watching on TV, and you could just see the look in these guys' faces, that they never believe they're going to lose," Wright said. "I got a chance to experience that firsthand tonight, and it was a lot of fun."
Ryan Howard and Domonic Brown each hit a three-run home run and Cameron Rupp also took deGrom deep. But the Mets chased starter Adam Morgan and rallied against Hector Neris (2-1).
Wright returned to the lineup after missing more than four months with spinal stenosis. He drove a 1-1 pitch from Morgan into the second deck in left field leading off the second inning.
Wright, 32, got a standing ovation from Mets fans at Citizens Bank Park when he ran onto the field, a louder ovation when he came to the plate and more cheers when he connected. He finished 2 for 5 with a walk, scored three runs and made two errors at third base.
Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said it was disappointing to jump on a pitcher like deGrom and not make it stick.
"Seven runs, 11 hits, you should win most games like that," Mackanin said.
Sports on 08/25/2015