Mets vs Padres Recap: Carson Benge Goes 5-for-5 in 7-3 Win

The Mets came to Petco Park ready to bounce back. They had just lost 5-0 the night before and wanted to show the Padres they belonged in this game. San Diego was struggling too—dropping games and falling out of first place in their division. This Sunday matchup would tell a story. Right from the first inning, the Mets jumped ahead. Juan Soto grounded out to second base, but Carson Benge raced home with the opening run. One pitch, one run, and the Mets had the lead. The energy shifted immediately. Randy Vasquez was pitching for San Diego, and the Mets were ready to hit. You could feel the momentum building. By the end of nine innings, the Mets dominated 7-3. The bats were alive. The pitching held strong. This wasn't just a win—it was a statement.

By the second inning, Marcus Semien was ready to swing. Randy Vasquez threw a 84-mile-per-hour cutter, and Semien connected hard. The ball flew over the left field wall for a home run. Two-nothing Mets. The lead was growing. Then came the fifth inning—the real fireworks started. Jared Young singled to center, scoring Benge again. The Mets had runners everywhere. In the sixth inning, MJ Melendez stepped up and crushed a fastball to right-center. The ball soared 398 feet out of the park. One swing, one run. Moments later, Carson Benge came up with two outs and did the same thing. A home run to right-center. Benge was unstoppable at the plate. The Mets now led 6-2. Petco Park was quiet. San Diego's pitchers couldn't find their groove.

The eighth inning brought more magic from the Mets' lineup. Carson Benge was on fire all game. He had already hit a home run in the sixth. Now he came up again and tripled down the right field line. Brett Baty raced home from third base. Seven-two. The Mets were in total control. San Diego fought back in the ninth inning. Freddy Fermin doubled to left field, bringing Samad Taylor home. The score became 7-3. That was it. The Mets held on. Sean Manaea got the win for New York, pitching four strong innings with three strikeouts. The Mets improved to 30-36 on the season. San Diego dropped to 33-32 after this loss. The Padres couldn't catch up. The Mets showed they could win in big games and weren't done fighting for their season.