SAN DIEGO — Carson Benge Shines for the Mets

Carson Benge has recently become a standout player for the Mets, consistently improving as he navigates his inaugural major league season.

His skills in defense, base running, and hitting are all contributing to his emergence as a candidate for the National League Rookie of the Year.

This past Sunday, Benge played a pivotal role in helping the Mets achieve a .500 record on their road trip, with an impressive 5-for-5 performance at the plate during a 7-3 win over the Padres. This victory marked the Mets’ first series win on the road since early May.

“Today was good,” Benji commented. “Getting two hits is tough enough, let alone five, so it felt really special.”

For the third time in four games, the Mets showcased solid offensive skills, racking up a total of 13 hits, which gave reliever Sean Manaea and the bullpen some breathing room.

Benge faced more than just baseball challenges during this trip; on Wednesday, his home in Seattle was burglarized. However, alongside teammate AJ Ewing, he invigorated the Mets’ defense with bold outfield plays.

During the game, Benge also hit his fourth homer of the season—a solo shot against left-hander Hiroki Matsui in the 6th inning, stretching the Mets’ lead to 6-2. His next at-bat led to an RBI triple.

“There are Rockets everywhere,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “His ability to use the whole field, and his left-to-left home run was truly remarkable.”

Notably, Benge became the first Mets rookie since Pete Alonso in 2019 to achieve five hits in a game, managing a single in each of his at-bats prior to his home run. Since early May, he has maintained an impressive .873 OPS, solidifying his position at the leadoff spot while Francisco Lindor is on the injured list.

“We’re going to see more games like this,” Mendoza expressed, “where he’s completely locked in and contributing significantly to our victories.”

Manaea pitched four innings, yielding four hits, one walk, and two earned runs. In addition, Brooks Lally, AJ Minter, and Luke Weaver combined for three scoreless innings, while Devin Williams allowed one run in the ninth.

Huascar Brazoban started the game for the Mets, managing to keep the Padres scoreless in the opening inning despite giving up back-to-back walks.

In the first inning, the Mets took a 1-0 lead when Juan Soto grounded out. Benji led off with a single, followed by Bo Bichette’s double. Soto’s RBI marked his 30th of the season.

The Mets extended their lead to 2-0 in the second inning thanks to Marcus Semien’s home run, his second consecutive homer. Semien’s shot the previous evening had also contributed to a win, albeit narrowly.

MJ Melendez, showing defensive prowess, made a remarkable diving catch, robbing Miguel Andujar of a hit after Xander Bogaerts’ single.

In the fifth, Jared Young’s RBI further widened the gap, followed by Ewing’s sacrifice fly, giving the Mets a 4-0 lead. Unfortunately for Soto, he was tagged out trying to advance to second base.

Manaea himself hit a two-run homer, narrowing the Padres’ deficit. Subsequent to a double by Tatis, his attempt to steal a base ended poorly when he was thrown out.

Melendez pushed the score to 5-2 with a home run in the sixth, marking his fourth of the season. Benge’s continued success in the latter part of the inning helped the Mets maintain their advantage, culminating in his decisive triple in the 8th.

After his fifth hit, Benji mentioned that he kept the ball to give to his father. “It’s tough to win a series, especially on the road,” he reflected. “But I enjoy traveling. It really brings us closer together.”