PHILADELPHIA — Before anyone knew the name Juan Lagares, the Mets were gaga over Matt den Dekker’s defensive potential.
Then den Dekker broke his wrist in spring training last year, creating an opening for Lagares, who has hardly looked back since. But den Dekker is still a special defensive player — a point he demonstrated Monday in his first start this season for the Mets.
First, den Dekker reached over the center-field fence to steal a home run from Ryan Howard. Later, he easily threw out Reid Brignac attempting to score from second.
“I know it’s tough, there’s a lot of guys who want to be out there and playing,” den Dekker said after the Mets thrashed the Phillies 11-2 for their sixth victory in seven games. “I just try to stay ready and get out there and play like I can.”
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Den Dekker had been optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday but was told to remain in town until the Mets were sure about Lagares’ status. Lagares was scratched from Saturday’s starting lineup with rib cage soreness and ultimately placed on the disabled list Monday.
Collins had told den Dekker late last week he would be in Monday’s starting lineup. All bets seemed off with den Dekker’s demotion that brought the Mets a needed bullpen arm in Dana Eveland, but Collins was rewarded for sticking to his original plan to keep den Dekker around and giving him the start.
“I can’t say it enough times: Defense is real important,” Collins said. “It keeps you in games.”
It’s understandable if the Mets (28-29) had to be threatened with arrest if they didn’t leave the premises. Though three of the games here went extra innings, the Mets won four of five in the series and made it clear the Phillies are the worst team in the NL East.
Den Dekker’s night included a single as part of the Mets’ four-run sixth that gave Bartolo Colon space. The Mets turned the game into a runaway with six runs in the ninth, highlighted by Wilmer Flores’ first career grand slam.
“It was great for us to be able to sit back and relax for a little while,” Collins said. “The grand slam was icing on the cake for sure.”
Colon (5-5) allowed two runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts over seven-plus innings for his third straight victory.
Curtis Granderson’s two-run single in the ninth gave the Mets at least seven runs for the first time in 19 games (they beat the Yankees 12-7 on May 13). Flores’ grand slam against Phillippe Aumont completed the onslaught.
“Tonight meant a lot,” Flores said. “I just want to prove that I can do the job, and I know I’m good and I can do this.”
Flores also slapped a two-run double in the sixth that gave the Mets a 5-0 lead. The hit was the Mets’ first in their last 15 at-bats with the bases loaded.
David Wright’s two-run double earlier in the inning gave Colon a cushion. Den Dekker’s first hit of the year and Daniel Murphy’s ensuing single started the rally before Wright upped his RBI total for the season to 32.
Lucas Duda, who hit a go-ahead homer for the Mets in the 11th inning on Sunday, got the Mets started a night later with an RBI double in the second against Roberto Hernandez that made it 1-0.
Before the game, Collins was non-committal when asked about the possibility of giving den Dekker an extended look in the outfield with Lagares sidelined.
“We have a lot of our guys we’re trying to do that with, and you can only play three of them,” Collins said. “[Den Dekker] is going to get some playing time and we’ll find out what we’ve got.”