Benge Powers Mets
Mets Rookie Carson Benge Dominates Padres with 5-for-5 Performance, Securing Series Win
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Mets rookie Carson Benge delivered one of the most eye-catching games by a first-year player this season, going 5-for-5 with a home run and an RBI triple to lead New York past San Diego 7-3 on Sunday ABC 7 NY. The win gave the Mets their first series victory in San Diego since 2018 — ending an eight-year drought at Petco Park TSN.
The Padres, once sitting comfortably in the NL Wild Card picture, have now lost 11 of their last 13 games. San Diego falls to 32-31 on the year. The Mets improve to 29-36 but have won seven of their last ten Seattle PI.
Benge's Historic 5-for-5 Night Stuns Petco Park
The 23-year-old rookie wasted no time. Benge led off the first inning with a single and scored on a Juan Soto groundout to put New York up 1-0. He added two more singles by the fifth inning, then hit back-to-back home runs with MJ Melendez in the sixth. In the eighth, he capped it all with a triple to deep right field, scoring Brett Baty Airdrie City View.
Benge's final line: 5-for-5, one home run, one triple, two RBI, and three runs scored. He became only the fourth rookie in Mets history to record five hits and a home run in a single game. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Benge is "controlling the strike zone in a way you don't see from many rookies" MRT.
Semien and Melendez Add Power to a 13-Hit Attack
Benge wasn't alone. Marcus Semien launched a solo home run in the second inning — his eighth of the year and third of the road trip. MJ Melendez went deep in the sixth, just moments before Benge followed him with his own blast. The Mets piled up 13 hits total. The Padres managed just seven Gazette Extra.
Semien struggled badly in April, posting a -0.6 WAR through May. Sunday was a reminder of what the Mets hoped they were getting when they traded fan favorite Brandon Nimmo to Texas to land the veteran second baseman last November. Sean Manaea picked up the win, improving to 1-1 on the year with a 5.02 ERA Greenwich Time.
Padres' Offense Has Gone Quiet at the Worst Time
San Diego's offense has cratered. The team has dropped 11 of 13 games heading into the heart of June. Local analysts say the Padres' attack is "significantly worse than the underperforming 2025 group." Rookie manager Craig Stammen, in his first year on the job, is facing growing pressure to find answers LMT Online.
Some Padres fans are already calling for GM A.J. Preller to make bold trades before the deadline. San Diego's 32-31 record has slipped from a safe Wild Card spot to a shaky one. The Padres were held to three runs Sunday, with losing pitcher Randy Vásquez dropping to 5-4 with a 3.63 ERA Erie News Now.
Mets' Youth Movement Builds Real Momentum
Benge was the Mets' first-round pick in 2024 out of Oklahoma State. He made his MLB debut on March 26, 2026. By May 2, his batting average had sunk to .179 and questions swirled about whether he was ready. Sunday pushed that average up to .265 — a stunning turnaround in just five weeks Post Register.
New York remains last in the NL East at 29-36. But a young core of Benge, A.J. Ewing, and Christian Scott is giving the team an identity. Juan Soto recently called Benge a "leader" who "wants to be part of every play." The Mets return home with real momentum — and a series win in San Diego that no one saw coming Oskaloosa.
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