Carson Benge hit his 10th home run of the season in the eighth inning Wednesday, providing a rare offensive spark for the Mets in their 9-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The homer against left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin was highlighted by interim manager Andy Green as a significant indicator of Benge's developing prowess against all pitchers.
Benge’s performance reflects a strong continuation of his progress from May, during which he hit five of his home runs. "Anybody who starts the season the way he did in April, to rebound as a rookie usually has to go to the minor leagues to reset," Green said after the game. "It says a lot about how he’s wired and competes. I think we are pleased with the way he’s responded this year. I think there is more inside of him to keep getting better."
Benge concluded the game with a 2-for-5 performance, raising his OPS to .720. This marks a significant improvement from his .498 OPS on May 2.
In other team news, Jorge Polanco's rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Syracuse is focused on designated hitter at-bats to protect his left ankle. Green indicated that first base duties might be introduced later, depending on Polanco’s condition. "He is a guy that can help us dramatically, even just in the DH spot, so right now it’s been DH priorities, and we’ll make a determination based on how he’s feeling and whether it’s the right thing to do to get him to first base or not,” Green stated.
The Mets' rotation is set for a four-game series in Atlanta following a day off on Thursday. Christian Scott, Sean Manaea, Nolan McLean, and Freddy Peralta are slated to start. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns declined to comment on owner Steve Cohen's assertion that his job is secure, though Stearns himself had previously stated Cohen had assured him he was not in danger of being fired.