The New York Mets started out strong Tuesday night against Philadelphia and never let up. The Mets evened their two game series with the Phillies by hitting a franchise record seven home runs in a 16-4 route of the Phillies in Philadelphia.

The Mets were led by their young stars as Jose Reyes and Victor Diaz each homered twice. Other Mets who went yard included Mike Piazza, Doug Mientkiewicz and David Wright. Wright's home run was a grand slam which added the final four runs for New York.

Phillies pitcher Vicente Padilla (0-1) was roughed up early in his first start of the season. Padilla has been battling tendonitis in his triceps muscle had yet to pitch this season. The first batter he faced, Jose Reyes, homered and the Mets never looked back. Every player in the Mets starting lineup had at least one hit in the game and the club finished with 15 overall.

In only three innings of work, Padilla allowed eight runs on eight hits.

Mets starter Victor Zambrano did not pitch a spectacular game but was able to get clutch outs with runners in scoring position. Twice he got out of a bases loaded situation with two outs without yielding any runs.

For the game, Zambrano (1-1) went six innings for the win, giving up four runs on eight hits. He also hit his first career triple, driving in two run in the fifth inning.

The seven home runs in a game broke the old Mets record of six. The Mets accomplished that twice, once on opening day in 1988 in Montreal and again June 15, 1999, in Cincinnati.

Mets fans celebrated the drubbing of their division rivals and by the time the game got out of hand, chants of 'Let's Go Mets' could be heard throughout the ball park.

The Mets upped their season record at 7-7 with the win. The loss dropped Philadelphia to 7-7. Both teams are one game behind the Florida Marlins and Washington Nationals in the NL East. Both Florida and Washington are 8-6 on the year.