Mets' Chris Bassitt shuts down A's in return to Oakland

Chris Bassitt threw eight strong innings in his homecoming, Eduardo Escobar blasted his first career grand slam and the visiting New York Mets opened a three-game road series with a 9-2 shellacking of the Oakland Athletics on Friday.

The Mets (96-56) extended their National League East lead to 2 1/2 games over the Atlanta Braves (93-58), who lost 9-1 to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Traded from the A's to the Mets in March