Carson Benge’s first five-hit game sends Mets to series win at Petco Park

SAN DIEGO. Carson Benge showed up to Petco Park with his acoustic guitar, lightly strumming at his locker in the visiting clubhouse during the Mets’ series against the Padres. What came later in the series opener turned into the kind of production New York has been waiting to see from its newest everyday option. On Sunday afternoon, Benge delivered his first career five-hit game as the Mets rolled to a 7-3 victory, finishing with a home run, three singles, and an RBI triple to widen the lead in the eighth inning.

The stat line was more than a personal milestone. Benge became the first Mets rookie to collect five-plus hits in a game since Pete Alonso did it on Aug. 15, 2019, and he joined a short list of Mets rookies who reached at least five hits in the same game while also recording a home run. That group, as noted, includes Alonso’s 2019 game, Alex Ochoa (July 3, 1996), and John Milner (Sept. 8, 1972).

Benge’s path to this kind of moment has been shaped by the time it took for him to get back to full speed. reported that he learned how to play guitar while recovering from Tommy John surgery before his freshman season at Oklahoma State, and that he has been searching for the right “tune” as a first-time big leaguer this season. After going through a debut phase that included learning how to stick to routines and handle major league pitching, Benge said he’s been encouraged by how consistent his day-to-day preparation has felt, saying, “Being able to play every day, get out there, work on different things… I feel like all in all it’s been good.”

The five-hit outburst fit a broader pattern the Mets have seen since early May. With Benge already on the Opening Day roster as the team’s starting right fielder, the club has watched him build steadier at-bats as the season has progressed. placed his overall output through 62 games at 0.7 bWAR and a.733 OPS, numbers that are not flashy on their own but have continued to climb in recent weeks. Since the start of May, said Benge is batting.316 with five home runs and 20 RBIs, along with an.873 OPS, a stretch that has included multiple firsts.

New York’s interest in Benge is not only tied to batting. The same MLB recap that described the five-hit game also highlighted his defensive impact in right field, working alongside fellow rookie A.J. Ewing. It also pointed to a standout baserunning play last week in Seattle, when Benge stole home, making him the first Met to do so since Francisco Lindor on Aug. 19, 2023. When a rookie can contribute in both spaces, it tightens a team’s lineup decisions. It also creates a sense that the role was not forced by circumstance, but earned.

For the Mets, the timing mattered. reported that the series victory secured a.500 trip for New York during its final West Coast swing of the regular season, a practical objective that can affect how quickly a team resets after long travel. Benge’s Sunday performance was the kind of clean, complete game that gives a club something solid to build from, especially when the rest of the lineup needs a reminder that early seasons can still turn into momentum later on.

Looking ahead, Benge’s challenge is to keep what’s working. A first career five-hit game can come from a single night that never repeats, but ’s earlier descriptions of his month-to-month adjustments suggest this has been earned rather than accidental. The Mets will be watching whether his power remains tied to the same approach, whether his hit tool continues to play at a premium with runners on, and whether his defense keeps right field stable as opponents plan their matchups around him. For New York, that combination is what turns occasional bursts into lasting roster confidence.