New York Mets rookie outfielder Carson Benge delivered a home run and a highlight-reel catch to help secure a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The performance marked a turning point for Benge, who has heated up since struggling earlier in the season. His contributions sparked a key Mets rally in the sixth inning.
DENVER -- Carson Benge has turned his season around dramatically. As recently as the morning of April 23, the rookie outfielder was batting .136 with a .416 OPS, prompting thoughts of a demotion to Triple-A Syracuse amid injuries on the Mets' roster. Since then, however, Benge has excelled, batting .303 over his last 11 games while shining defensively and at the plate. On Monday, he robbed Tyler Freeman of an RBI extra-base hit with a fine catch in the third inning, following a standout play in Anaheim the previous Sunday. Benge then homered in the sixth to break Tomoyuki Sugano’s no-hit bid, fueling a Mets breakout with three straight extra-base hits, including an RBI double from Luis Torrens. Mark Vientos added a two-run single after Sugano's exit, boosting his RBI count to six over his last two games. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza managed the pitching effectively at hitter-friendly Coors Field, starting with right-handers Huascar Brazobán and Austin Warren before shifting to lefty David Peterson in bulk relief. Peterson retired the first 11 batters he faced, rebounding from a poor start the prior week at Citi Field and minimizing stress despite Benge's mishap on a Jordan Beck RBI triple in the seventh.
