Either Jeff Wilpon and Brodie Van Wagenen’s words provided instant motivation that was lacking or Derek Jeter’s flat-lining Marlins served as the perfect antidote for what ailed the Mets.
It’s safe to say the latter — almost certainly the latter.
Before the start of an essential 16-game stretch against sub-.500 teams, the Mets higher-ups had a 90-minute meeting with manager Mickey Callaway to emphasize the importance of using the experience of last season’s slide after a fast start to right the ship and avoid a similar fate, The Post’s Joel Sherman reported.
“This meeting had a different focus [than most of our other meetings],” Callaway said. “This meeting was about, ‘How can we be better, how can we get going in the right direction,’ and it was very productive.”
For one night at least it was.
Callaway’s team responded by treating the worst-in-baseball Marlins like the doormats they have become, exploding for eight first-inning runs — seven fewer than they managed during their entire 1-5 road trip — and cruising to a feel good 11-2 victory in front of 25,194 at Citi Field.
“I just called Jeff and told him we’re having another one tomorrow, because if we’re going to score runs like that, we’ll meet every day,”
joked Callaway, who said he didn’t come away from the meeting feeling any extra pressure to win.
“I already felt that way,” he said.
Everyone associated with the Mets was in a good mood after this victory.
The offense erupted, battering Marlins starter Pablo Lopez for three home runs, 10 hits and 10 runs over three innings, and pounding out a season-high 15 hits. It started with the stunning opening frame. The Mets (18-20) sent 13 hitters to the plate, scored eight runs, and produced eight hits. Amed Rosario had the big blow, his first career grand slam, a shot to right-center field, and J.D. Davis and Robinson Cano each had two singles.
“Everybody took a deep breath after that, like, ‘OK, we can still score runs,’ because we haven’t [been doing that],” Callaway said. “That’s one game, though. We have to keep it going. We have to come back tomorrow and do the same thing, or that’s going to be meaningless.”
Lopez allowed seven runs on the first 21 pitches he threw, and was responsible for only two outs, one on a strikeout of starting pitcher Zack Wheeler, in the inning. The first out was recorded by right fielder Brian Anderson, who gunned down Jeff McNeil trying to go first to third on a Davis single. The inning mercifully ended when Pete Alonso’s hot shot caromed off Lopez to second baseman Starlin Castro.
It was the Mets’ first eight-run first inning in 29 years and first such frame at home in 39 years. Their longest first inning ever was a nine-run output against the Giants on Aug. 16, 1988. The inning alone also represented their highest output of the season since beating the Phillies, 9-0, on Apr. 23.
“It was kind of a comfortable game,” McNeil said. “I think that’s the first one we’ve had all season.”
Wheeler was the beneficiary, tossing seven innings of two-run ball while striking out 11 for his third victory. Michael Conforto snapped out of a 1-for-15 skid with three hits and his seventh home run of the year. Davis added three hits and McNeil notched his 17th multi-hit game of the season.
It all began with that talk between Callaway, Wilpon and Van Wagenen. The punching bag of an opponent, of course, didn’t hurt. Miami isn’t 10-28 by accident.
“When we play the Marlins,” McNeil said, “we have to win every single game.”
