Carson Benge’s slump atop the Mets lineup largely coincided with the team’s latest losing streak.
Wednesday night, the rookie outfielder returned to the form of May flowers — after April showers to begin his major league career — with two big hits to lead the Mets’ 4-2 victory over the Reds at Citi Field.
Benge delivered RBI singles in the fifth and seventh innings on a night the Mets assembled a strong bullpen performance in ending a five-game skid.
After scoring only two runs or fewer in six straight games — the first time in a decade they had struggled to that extent — the Mets had a decent night offensively, allowing them to avoid getting swept in a second straight series.
Benge was in a 1-for-20 rut before he stroked an RBI single in the fifth that gave the Mets a 3-1 lead. Two innings later, he singled in another run, giving the Mets their final margin of victory.
Before his slump, the 23-year-old outfielder was thriving, with a .919 OPS over 17 games, a stretch in which the Mets went 11-6.
Devin Williams infused drama by walking the bases loaded in the ninth before escaping with the save. Williams struck out Dane Myers and Blake Dunn in succession to end it. The Reds left 17 runners on base.
Jonah Tong created plenty of traffic in his bulk relief appearance but lived to tell the tale. The right-hander surrendered three hits and four walks over 3 ²/₃ innings behind opener Huascar Brazobán, but only an unearned run scored on his watch.
It was a second straight effective bullpen outing for Tong, who pitched three hitless, shutout innings in Miami on Friday upon his recall to the Mets.
Juan Soto’s first-inning homer against Andrew Abbott gave the Mets their initial run.
It was Soto’s second straight game with a homer following his return from a two-day layoff due to sickness. Overall, Soto has homered six times in his past seven games.
Eric Wagaman, who started at DH to give the Mets an extra right-handed bat in the lineup, homered with two outs in the second to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.
Wagaman hit nine homers in a full season for the Marlins last year.
Tong’s throwing error on Elly De La Cruz’s grounder leading off the third led to the Reds scoring an unearned run.
Eugenio Suárez drew a two-out walk in the inning, and Nathaniel Lowe’s RBI single sliced the Mets lead to 2-1.
Tobias Myers got an important out in the fifth, retiring Spencer Steer after Tong walked two batters in the inning and departed with two outs.
De La Cruz’s error with two outs in the bottom of the inning helped the Mets extend their lead with an unearned run.
Luis Torrens and Benge singled in succession, with the latter hit giving the Mets a 3-1 lead.
Sal Stewart’s infield single in the sixth pulled the Reds to within 3-2.
Myers allowed a leadoff double to Tyler Stephenson, and Blake Dunn singled before Brooks Raley plunked De La Cruz. With two outs, Stewart’s roller to third brought in the run.
Soto was thrown out attempting to steal second in the sixth after reaching on a single to begin the inning. It was Soto’s second time caught stealing in seven attempts this season.
A.J. Ewing’s diving catch in center on Dane Myers’ line drive ended the top of the seventh with the tying run on first base following a walk to Stephenson.
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Benge’s RBI single in the seventh gave the Mets a 4-2 cushion. Jared Young’s pinch-hit single leading off started the rally before he reached second on a wild pitch.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
