Morning Rewind, 8/25: Captain Comeback

By JOHN DORN

The New York Mets have been doing just fine without David Wright. But that doesn't mean he won't help.

The team's captain returned after a 131-day absence, rehabbing back from a career-threatening case of spinal stenosis. Over recent weeks, New York has built a suddenly threatening offense built around Yoenis Cespedes and Lucas Duda -- fitting Wright into a seemingly perfect ancillary role.

So Monday's return likely wasn't anything special, right? Maybe a single or two would make for reasonable expectations after all that time away from Major League pitching?

Nope.

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In the third pitch of his first at-bat, Wright sent one sailing into the upper deck. So much for tempered expectations.

It was one of a franchise-record eight home runs for the Mets, including a pair by folk hero Wilmer Flores. Daniel Murphy got in on the fun, and boy, did he soak up the moment.

The team combined for another record: 15 extra-base hits. Jacob deGrom couldn't make it out of the third inning, allowing seven runs on eight hits. But when you hit eight balls out of the park, all is forgiven.

The Mets now hold the largest division lead in baseball -- sitting 5.5 games over the Washington Nationals.

Mets 16, Phillies 7

See photos of Wright's career with the Mets:

Around the League

NYY 1, HOU 0
It took two hours and 47 minutes, and all of nine innings, but a run eventually did come across at Yankee Stadium on Monday. A Carlos Beltran sacrifice fly plated Brett Gardner in the bottom of the ninth, off former Yankee Chad Qualls.

ATL 5, COL 3
They've been playing like it for some time, but now -- officially -- the Rockies are the worst team in baseball. Allowing runs to the lowly braves in the fourth, fifth and sixth consecutively was enough to blow this one. It snapped a seven-game Braves losing skid, and a stretch of 11 losses in 13 games.

CHC 2, CLE 1

He's only been around for a few short months, but Kris Bryant has been making his mark at the ends of games. Monday brought his second walk-off homer of the season, pushing the Cubs to a season-high 21 games over .500.

CIN 12, DET 5
Posting 10 runs in an inning doesn't usually end poorly. This held true Monday, when Cincy put up a 10-spot in the sixth inning. Two more runs in the eighth sealed the deal.

PIT 5, MIA 2
The Pirates just keep on rolling. At 75-48, they're the second-best team in the National League -- but the only better team plays in their division. Pittsburgh still trails St. Louis by 3.5 games for the Central lead, setting them up for a one-game playoff against yet another Central team, the Cubs, if these standings hold.

KC 8, BAL 3

A two-out rally in the sixth resulted in a seven-run inning for the AL-leading Royals. A 3-1 deficit turned into an 8-3 lead, and Mike Moustakas was at the center of yet another KC rally with a two-run homer. Lorenzo Cain, who went 3-for-5 himself with a pair of RBIs, received the postgame Gatorade bath.

BOS 5, CWS 4
This season's second installment of the Battle of the Sox begins in Boston's favor. The Red Sox snap a two-game losing skid, edging Chicago despite a late, ill-fated rally attempt in the bottom of the ninth.

OAK 11, SEA 5
More crooked numbers put up, this time by Oakland in the fifth. A seven-spot thrusted them over the Mariners at Safeco Field Monday, giving Hisashi Iwakuma his first loss since July 28.

STL 5, ARI 3
The Pirates are surging, but they're not gaining any ground as long as the Cardinals keep on being the Cardinals. A couple of Arizona miscues opened the door, and St. Louis took advantage, as they tend to do.


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