DETROIT — The Mets did not hit a grand slam Wednesday night. They could not even manage a home run. But there are other ways to score while keeping the ball in the park. They pounded out 20 hits and 16 runs as their astonishing offensive attack continued its record-breaking pace.

With a 16-9 victory over the Detroit Tigers, the Mets have scored at least 14 runs for the third time in the last four games and set a franchise record with 52 runs in a four-game span.

The 20 hits surpassed their previous season high — set Tuesday — and gave them 69 in the four games that began Saturday in Texas, two shy of the team record set during that same span in 1990. The 16 runs were more than the combined total of five other major league games.