Carson Benge continues rookie surge in Mets’ offensive explosion

CLEVELAND — Carson Benge’s bid for a home run in each game of this series fell a few feet short with his shot off the fence in left-center in Thursday’s third inning. 

But it didn’t change the fact the rookie outfielder is on a tear. 

That RBI triple was part of a 3-for-6 day for Benge, who helped lead the 13-6 victory over the Guardians. 

Benge’s three-hit game was his ninth this season, leading the club. Benge homered in victories Tuesday and Wednesday. 

“He’s doing a good job shooting the ball to all parts of the ballpark right now,” interim manager Andy Green said. “Professional at-bats. It’s like he’s been around for a while now instead of just four months, so it’s a good start to a career.” 

Benge’s 112 hits are the third most by a rookie this season, trailing only Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle (118) and Colorado’s T.J. Rumfield (116). 

“See ball, hit ball,” Benge said. “It’s about that simple.” 

A day after he was unavailable due to arm fatigue, Devin Williams was available to pitch, according to Green. But the closer wasn’t needed with the Mets ahead by seven runs in the ninth inning. 

The Mets received a second straight scoreless outing from Nate Lavender to begin the lefty reliever’s major league career. Lavender pitched a scoreless sixth inning with two strikeouts. 

Kodai Senga had a second straight appearance in a one-inning high-leverage role and fired a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts. Senga hit 100 mph with his fastball. 

Luis Torrens homered for the second time in three days and finished the series with seven RBIs. It was the highest RBI total for a Mets player in a three-game series this season and most since Juan Soto had seven against the Tigers in September last year. All four of Torrens’ homers this season have been go-ahead blasts. 

The nine homers the Mets hit were their second most in a three-game series this season. The Mets hit 10 homers against the Cubs over three games in June.