Carson Benge's dynamic play was on full display Saturday as the New York Mets secured a decisive 12-2 victory over the Yankees. The rookie outfielder contributed significantly with his bat and defense, leaving teammates impressed.
Benge’s offensive output included a home run off Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole in the third inning and an RBI single in the sixth. He finished the game 2-for-5 at the plate. In the eighth inning, Benge made a full-extension diving catch in right-center field to rob Aaron Judge of a potential hit.
"He doesn’t impress me anymore," teammate Juan Soto said of Benge. "I think he’s a superstar. He’s doing things that superstars do every day. Every day he will find a way to make us smile with the swing, with the running, the throws. It’s incredible."
The performance was a welcome resurgence for Benge, whose candidacy for the National League Rookie of the Year award had reportedly cooled in recent weeks. He entered Saturday's game with a .577 OPS in September, marking his first significant offensive dip after a strong summer.
The Mets’ six home runs in the game marked a team high for a Subway Series matchup. The previous record of five home runs in such a game was achieved twice, both at Yankee Stadium in 2018 and 2024.
In other team news, interim manager Andy Green indicated that Brett Baty, who was available off the bench but did not play, is recovering from knee discomfort sustained last week. Green expressed hope that Baty would be ready to start the series finale on Sunday. Nick Morabito started in left field on Saturday, with Soto shifting to designated hitter.
Robert Stock is slated to remain part of a six-man pitching rotation and is scheduled to pitch on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles, according to Green. Stock last pitched on Wednesday.