Mets set franchise record with 24 runs behind Jose Bautista's 7 RBIs

PHILADELPHIA -- The New York Mets didn't care who was on the mound. They kept swinging and scoring.

Jose Bautista hit a grand slam and had a career-high seven RBIs, and the Mets set a franchise record for runs, forcing thePhiladelphia Philliesto use two position players for the final three innings of a 24-4 New York victory in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday.

Corey Oswalt (2-2) gave up four solo homers in six innings, Amed Rosario hit a leadoff homer and had three RBIs, and the Mets took advantage of four errors to score 11 unearned runs.

Even reliever Jerry Blevins got his first career hit, a line-drive RBI single off infielder Scott Kingery.

"There's nothing better," Blevins said. "It's something you dream about as a kid. When I tell the story, I'll say I turned around a 95 (mph fastball). It's pretty awesome."

The Mets scored more than 15 runs in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history. They beat theBaltimore Orioles16-5 on Wednesday night.

The Mets began the nightcap with three straight doubles on Zach Eflin's first four pitches. Michael Conforto's two-run double made it 2-0. However, their bats then cooled off, and they lost 9-6.

In the first game,Rhys Hoskins, Maikel Franco, Nick Williams and Jorge Alfaro went deep for the Phillies, who moved to within 1 games of the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves.

Outfielder Roman Quinn gave up a homer to Conforto on his second pitch -- a 79 mph fastball. He got five outs, gave up seven runs and threw 42 pitches. Kingery went the final 1 innings and gave up two runs.

Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler defended the decision to use Quinn and Kingery on the mound and took plenty of heat from fans and media on social media.

"In that situation, our best relievers aren't excited about coming in and our position players enjoy it," Kapler said. "Our strategy is to be in the best position to win the second game."

His players backed him up.

"You trust Gabe," Hoskins said. "It's worked. We don't see any madness in his method."

Mets right fielder Brandon Nimmo left the game after injuring his left index finger hitting a grounder to third base with two outs and the bases loaded in the third inning. Nimmo fell to the ground as the ball rolled to Franco, who was late tagging third but threw to first to easily get the out. X-rays on Nimmo's finger were negative, and he said he'll have an MRI on Friday. Bautista replaced him.

"I just said: 'Oh, crud,'" Nimmo said. "It hit my knuckle."

Phillies starter Ranger Suarez (1-1) gave up eight runs -- four earned -- and 11 hits in four innings. Right-handerMark Leiter Jr. gave up seven unearned runs and four hits in one inning.

After Alfaro's shot cut it to 5-4, the Mets had a 10-run fifth. Suarez balked in a run and exited after Bautista followed with an RBI single. Another run scored on Alfaro's throwing error on Oswalt's sacrifice, and Rosario drove one in on a fielder's choice grounder.

Hoskins then dropped Austin Jackson's two-out fly ball for an error and another run scored. After Wilmer Flores' RBI single, Bautista connected for his 10th homer. Bautista had a chance to hit another slam when he faced Quinn in the eighth but walked on a 3-2 pitch over his head. He added an RBI double off Kingery.

"We didn't play good defense," Kapler said. "We put pressure on our pitchers to get additional outs."

RUN BARRAGE

The Mets' previous record was 23 runs at the Cubs on Aug. 16, 2017.

DOMINATING PHILLY

The Mets are 42-19 over their past 61 games at Citizens Bank Park since 2012.

GOING DEEP

Bautista has 13 seasons of double-digit homers since 2005. Only Albert Pujols has more with 14.

TRAINER'S ROOM

METS: David Wright went 0-for-3 in his latest rehab game for Class A St. Lucie. In six innings at third base, he had one assist and one putout.

PHILLIES: Lefty Aaron Loup (left forearm strain) and lefty Austin Davis (low back tightness) were put on the 10-day disabled list. Suarez and Leiter were recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

UP NEXT

RHP Noah Syndergaard (8-2, 3.22 ERA) goes for the Mets and RHP Aaron Nola (13-3, 2.28) starts for the Phillies in a marquee matchup Friday night.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.