Overview
- Benge delivered two two‑out, 0‑2 RBI singles on Thursday night to beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 and end New York’s five‑game losing streak.
- Both hits came on up‑and‑in fastballs, the first off lefty Andrew Abbott in the fifth and the second off reliever Zach Maxwell in the seventh, and they provided the deciding runs.
- Benge said he shaved his mustache before the game and credited the move with boosting his confidence after a 1-for-20 stretch.
- The 23‑year‑old rookie, a 2024 first‑round pick, has shortened his swing and improved his two‑strike approach, producing a pronounced May surge with strong extra‑base and RBI totals and praise from manager Carlos Mendoza.
- With the Mets struggling in the standings and Francisco Lindor on the injured list, Benge’s emergence as a leadoff option gives the club a young, steady offensive and defensive presence that could shape lineup decisions going forward.