NEW YORK _ The knockout punch came from Amed Rosario, who sent a Pablo Lopez curveball an estimated 382 feet into the seats in right-center field for a grand slam. With that blast, the Mets had tagged the 23-year-old Lopez for seven runs while all eight batters reached.
The Mets (17-20) blew out the Marlins, 11-2, on Friday at Citi Field. Those 11 runs tied a season high (New York scored 11 against the Nationals on March 30).
Minutes after Rosario's homer, the first-inning explosion ended. The Mets had hung eight runs on eight hits. Thirteen batters went to the plate.
The eight-run first inning marked the first time the Mets scored eight runs in a first inning since June 16, 1989, at Philadelphia.
More context to how crazy this was: The Mets scored more in Friday's first inning than they had in any game since April 23, when they beat the Phillies, 9-0.
Entering Friday, New York averaged 2.4 runs per game since April 29. They had scored two or fewer six times in that span.
Maybe the Mets found a cure for their offensive issues. It is also possible that they're just playing the Marlins, who came into the game with the worst record in baseball at 10-27.
Whatever it may be, there is no question the Mets _ who dropped five of six on their recent road trip _ needed something like this. Something positive.
"There comes a point where you just got to forget whatever happened," Mets manager Mickey Callaway said about his team's offensive woes before Friday's game. "If you're not injured, you're the same player you were two weeks ago when you were raking. The only thing that is different is your mindset because you've been struggling."
Every Mets starter collected at least one hit except rookie Pete Alonso, who has carried the offense in some games. J.D. Davis and Michael Conforto each tallied three.
New York finished with 15 hits, the club's most in a game since it had 16 against the Cubs on Aug. 29 of last season.
Lopez came in with a 4.03 ERA over seven starts. It is almost two points higher now (5.93).
The Mets scored in five pitches, the last being a wild pitch that plated a run. Wilson Ramos then dribbled a ball up the third-base line, and another man scored. Next, Nimmo drew a bases-loaded walk.
Later in the inning, Robinson Cano hit an RBI single to cap the bloodbath.
During the road trip, the Mets fell four and a half games out of first place in the National League East. They were three games under .500 when they returned to New York. While they had other issues, the one that stuck out was their inability to score.
New York plated 10 total runs against Lopez, who lasted just three innings. The only pitcher to give up more earned runs against New York is Chris Rusin, who allowed 11 in 2015 when he was with the Rockies.
There were still eight innings to play after the first, but the game's outcome seemed decided.
When Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler took the mound for the second time on Friday, he had an eight-run cushion.
He easily protected it.
Wheeler allowed two earned runs over seven innings. Both were scored in the third.
He gave up nine hits, but that number didn't loom as large because they were all singles. The Marlins could never do any real damage.
Wheeler finished with 11 strikeouts, matching his season high. It marked his third double-digit strikeout game of the season and the seventh of his career. He threw 107 pitches, 81 for strikes.
He lowered his ERA, if only slightly, from 4.64 to 4.35 with the outing. In a blowout like the one Friday, it was also important that he lasted as long as he did because the Mets have been trying to get their bullpen arms some rest.
