Benge Sets Mets rookie-hit mark as New York routs Phillies 10-3
Carson Benge collected three hits, including a homer and a record RBI infield single, lifting the Mets to a 10-3 victory over Philadelphia.
Carson Benge collected three hits and raised his season total to 156 to break the Mets rookie hits record set by Pete Alonso in 2019, homering as part of New York’s 10-3 victory. Francisco Alvarez also went deep, and the Mets’ burst at the plate kept Philadelphia from gaining ground in the NL wild card picture. Benge tipped his cap to an ovation of 37,468 after the milestone hit, an RBI infield single in the eighth.
The scoring unfolded in pieces: Alec Bohm produced a pair of run-scoring singles and Bryce Harper supplied a sacrifice fly for the Phillies (85-70). The Mets took control in the fifth when Alvarez hit a three-run homer off Andrew Painter (3-10). Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio each had an RBI in the sixth, and New York tacked on four runs in the eighth off Orion Kerkering. Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Bo Bichette recorded RBI before Benge’s record-breaking knock; Lindor went 0 for 4 and remained at 299 career homers.
On the mound, Painter yielded four runs and four hits with seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings, leaving with a 5.59 ERA. Christian Scott started for the Mets, surrendering three runs while striking out seven in 4 2/3 innings; Jefry Yan (2-1) worked in to get four outs in relief. Kerkering has given up nine runs in 4 1/3 innings over four appearances this month, a rough patch that continued in the eighth. Scott has now allowed four runs or fewer in all 32 of his big league starts.