PHILADELPHIA — The conversation at David Wright’s locker before Monday’s game turned to his penchant for delivering loud hits at Citizens Bank Park.
Still fresh was the memory of Wright’s mammoth homer here last August in his first at-bat for the Mets after four months rehabbing from a pulled hamstring and spinal stenosis.
But there was also the blast he hit here in April 2012 with a broken finger, after he appeared certain for a disabled-list stint.
“Against Vance Worley,” Wright said, correctly identifying the Phillies pitcher.
So, what ailment was Wright returning from this time that would add a back story to the home run he was sure to hit?
“Three days in Cleveland,” Wright joked.
The Mets ended up hitting four homers in their 5-2 victory over the Phillies, and Wright’s pair resonated the loudest — figuratively speaking. Lucas Duda’s eighth-inning homer against David Hernandez nearly decapitated a few fans seated in the right-field mezzanine, but to see Wright clear the fence twice was a sign the Mets needed: Maybe their captain still has some power left in his swing.
It was something the Mets hadn’t seen over the first two weeks, during which Wright was reaching base at a solid clip but hardly driving the ball, as his paltry .364 slugging percentage entering play suggested.
Terry Collins put his third baseman on the bench in Sunday’s finale in Cleveland, precisely for the reason of wanting a fresh player for these games in Philly, where Wright’s 22 home runs are the most by an opposing player.
“Star players should never surprise you with what they can do,” Collins said. “They do things that capture your attention and he’s dangerous here. He feels great hitting in this park and he did it again tonight.”
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Add the bare-handed grab Wright made to throw out David Lough on a slow roller in the fourth inning, and this was easily Wright’s most complete game of the season.
In winning four of their last five games, the Mets look much different than the sputtering bunch that struggled to score runs against the Phillies and Marlins on the last homestand. Most notably, they are hitting home runs — perhaps a byproduct of the more spring-like weather they have incurred in hitter-friendly ballparks since leaving in New York.
“We’re not getting too many hits, so we better hit some over the fence,” Collins said.
Wright hit four over the fence after returning from the DL last year and another in the World Series. But you also wonder, after a spring training in which he didn’t start playing in exhibition games until about halfway through: How long would it take Wright to get going?
“Certainly with the number at-bats he had in spring training, we weren’t sure they were enough,” Collins said. “But he’s had past camps where he was hurt and he didn’t have many more than that and he got off to a pretty good start.
“He’s just a good player. He’s willing to take a walk if you’re going to give him a walk and here he knows he’s just got to put good swings on the balls and he’s going to be dangerous.”
Suddenly this entire Mets lineup appears dangerous. There was Michael Conforto’s big weekend after moving to No. 3 in the batting order and Neil Walker has already hit four homers. The previously slumping Duda drove in two runs Sunday before delivering a double and homer against the Phillies.
The Mets will continue to play it cautiously with Wright, taking a “proactive” approach to ensure his lower back doesn’t become an issue. That will mean scheduled days on the bench, especially when the Mets follow a night game with an afternoon start.
The safe bet is none of those off days will come in the Mets’ eight remaining games at Citizens Bank Park this season.
On Monday, Wright was a beast again in his favorite venue. Even more impressive than blasting a homer with a broken finger or after spending four months on the DL, he hit two after spending three days in Cleveland.