Schwei's Mets Notes: Amazin' Power At Home, A Pinch-Hit Grand Slam And More
By John Schweibacher
» More Columns
The New York Mets gained ground in the playoff race by winning six of seven before coming up short Sunday as they went for the sweep against Philadelphia.
After scoring 31 runs in their previous three games, the Mets scored just once in their 5-1 loss to the Phillies. New York hit four home runs in each of the first two games of the series but did not homer in the finale. In their 61 home games in 2016, the Mets have already broken the franchise record they set last season for homers at Citi Field.
Here are the Mets' all-time best home run totals for a season in home games:
· 2006: 96 home runs, Shea Stadium
· 2008: 95 home runs, Shea Stadium
· 1987: 93 home runs, Shea Stadium
· 2000: 93 home runs, Shea Stadium
· 1962: 93 home runs, Polo Grounds
· 2016: 87 home runs, Citi Field
· 1990: 86 home runs, Shea Stadium
· 2004: 86 home runs, Shea Stadium
· 2015: 85 home runs, Citi Field
The Mets made it two in a row over the Phillies with a 12-1 win Saturday night. Kelly Johnson hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh inning to blow the game open. It was the 11th pinch-hit grand slam in Mets' history:
· Aug. 28, 2016: Kelly Johnson vs. Philadephia
· April 5, 2014: Ike Davis vs. Cincinnati
· Aug. 27, 2009: Fernando Tatis vs. Colorado
· May 30, 2000: Todd Pratt at Los Angeles Dodgers
· March 30, 2000: Benny Agbayani vs. Chicago Cubs
· May 4, 1995: Todd Hundley at Montreal
· May 3, 1994: Joe Orsulak vs. San Francisco
· July 18, 1993: Dave Gallagher at San Francisco
· June 10, 1986: Tim Teufel vs. Philadelphia
· April 9, 1978: Steve Henderson vs. Montreal
· Aug. 18, 1966: Hawk Taylor vs. Pittsburgh
The Mets beat the Phillies 9-4 on Friday night at Citi Field. Jose Reyes led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run, and Asdrubal Cabrera followed with a homer on the next pitch.
It was the second time in Mets history they began a game with two straight home runs. On July 12, 2007, Reyes and Ruben Gotay both went deep against the Reds in an eventual 3-2 win.
On Thursday night in St. Louis, the Mets took the rubber game of their three-game series against the Cardinals, 10-6. Alejandro De Aza, who entered the game with a .189 batting average, knocked in five runs in the Mets' win.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, De Aza is the seventh player in Mets history to knock in five or more runs in a game despite entering the game with at least 100 at-bats and a batting average under .200.
Elias notes the other Mets who did it were:
· Ron Swoboda, July 4, 1966, at Philadephia (5 RBIs, .188 average entering the game)
· Cleon Jones, July 26, 1967, at San Francisco (5 RBIs, .193)
· Darryl Strawberry, June 28, 1983, at St. Louis (5 RBIs, .196)
· Gary Carter, Sept, 23, 1989, vs. Montreal (5 RBIs, .173)
· Dick Schofield, July 19, 1992, vs. San Francisco (6 RBIs, .195)
· Ruben Tejada, Sept. 5, 2010, at Chicago (5 RBIs, .185)
Jacob deGrom had his second straight rough outing as the Cardinals pounded out 19 hits in an 8-1 win over the Mets last Wednesday night at Busch Stadium. After giving up 13 hits in five innings in a loss to the Giants, deGrom gave up 12 hits over 4 2/3 innings in losing to the Cards, becoming the first starter in club history to give up at least 12 hits in consecutive starts.
The Cardinals' 19 hits equaled their second-most ever in a nine-inning game against the Mets. On July 26, 1973, in St. Louis, the Cards had 19 hits in a 13-1 romp, and on May 26, 1991, at Shea Stadium, the Redbirds collected 23 hits in a 14-4 blowout.
On Tuesday night, Robert Gsellman made his major-league debut taking over for an injured Jonathon Niese in the first inning and earned the win with 3 2/3 scoreless innings in the Mets' 7-4 win over the Cardinals.
It was the second time in 10 days a Mets relief pitcher got the win in his major league debut and the eighth time it happened in club history:
· Aug. 23, 2016: NYM 7 at StL 4, Robert Gsellman
· Aug. 13, 2016: SD 2 at NYM 3 (11 innings), Gabriel Ynoa
· Sept. 29, 1993: StL 0 at NYM 1 (17), Kenny Greer
· April 9, 1991: Phi 1 at NYM 2 (10), Doug Simons
· June 12, 1985: NYM 7 at Phi 3 (11), Rick Aguilera
· April 11, 1985: StL 1 at NYM 2 (11), Roger McDowell
· June 19, 1979: Atl 1 at NYM 2, Jeff Reardon
· April 8, 1978: Mtl 5 at NYM 6, Mardie Cornejo
Happy Recap: Reyes. The Mets 3B/SS is hitting .333 (21-for-63) with 13 runs scored in August.
Nine Miles of Rough Road: Curtis Granderson. The Mets outfielder is hitting .150 (12-for-80) this month.
