Category: Baseball

Carson Benge didn't get off to a great start for the Mets in his first taste of the majors, but the rookie has slowly but surely begun his ascension and came through with a solo home run that sparked New York's offense in an eventual 4-2 win against the Colorado Rockies.

Over his last 11 games, Benge is 10-for-33 and his batting average has climbed to .192 on the season. While still not great, the rookie hasn't let a rough start to his career get the best of him and has continued to work and stay the course, trusting that the process and his talent will eventually win out.

"I’d say there were definitely a little growing pains in there and I’m sure there’s still a few many to come," Benge said after the game. "But just being able to step in there with my same level of confidence I’ve always had is definitely a big thing."

Benge's steady approach when things weren't going his (or the Mets) way is a testament to his maturity. And still just 23 years old, it's something that has impressed manager Carlos Mendoza since day one.

"I’ve been impressed with how he’s handled the whole situation, how steady he’s been, how professional, how mature he’s been," Mendoza said. "And those are some really good signs from a young player, especially getting a taste at the big league level for the first time."

Making the Opening Day roster after a spectacular spring training and tasked with playing right field, Benge had a lot on his plate served to him from the jump. However, on a team full of veterans he had the luxury of being able to go at his own pace and not put too much pressure on himself as he found his footing.

But with injuries to many of those veterans that New York was leaning on, suddenly the Mets needed Benge, and others, to come to the forefront. 

For example, when Juan Soto went down earlier this season (and even when he returned), Benge had to move over to left field and handled it with ease. Now with Luis Robert Jr. sidelined with an injury, Benge has also played some center field, including on Monday where he made another nice catch following his pulchritudinous play in right field on Sunday.

There's no doubt Benge's defense has been solid all season, which is definitely important, but for him to stick in the majors and live up to his top-prospect hype his offense would have to follow suit. And lately, it has.

"It’s a good sign," Mendoza said about Benge's improved offense. "And it’s good not only for the team, but good for him to start playing with some confidence."

If Benge can continue his development at the plate, one that includes patience which has led to three walks in his last two games after he walked just five times in April, it helps a Mets offense that has endured a team-wide slump for much of the season.

But even during his and the team's slump, Benge stayed positive through it all and his teammates had his back every step of the way.

"I feel like all the guys here, they had my back and they all believe in me so why can’t I believe in myself?" he said.

Blue Jays 1 Rays 5

That was a very frustrating game. The Jays had ten hits, but just one extra base hit, a double by Yohendrick Piñango. It is hard to have 10 hits and only get one run. You really have to work at it.

And, the Rays scored three in the first. Eric Lauer showed us how much he hated the idea of the opener by showing why we should have an opener for his starts. The first three batters went single, walk, home run. And, really, the Rays could have stopped there.

After that Lauer was ok. He was still giving up hard hit balls, but they found gloves. He went 54.1, with 5 hits, 3 earned, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts.

Spencer Miles finished off the fifth very nicely. But in the sixth, he went ground out, single, strikeout, single, single. He came out of the game for

Mason Fluharty, who gave up a two run single and that was pretty much the game.

Tommy Nance and Joe Mantiply pitched a scoreless inning each.

On offense…there were a lot of singles. Nine singles and the one double. Piñango had three hits. No one else had more than one. Daulton Varsho had the 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts. Vlad had the only RBI driving home Piñango (who is hitting .500 at the moment, I don’t know how you send him down when Nathan Lukes or Addison Barger come back from the IL).

Ten hits, but one for eight with RISP.

I always hate excuses for not hitting with RISP but I suppose they could be pressing. But these guys went to the World Series last year, they should know how to drive in a run, now and then.

Defensively, they were fine, other than Ernie Clement who had a tough time. I thought he made two errors, but I see the Official Scorer disagrees. I tell you, make me official scorer and I’ll have fielding averages back to where they were in the 1930s. I know it is an old man rant, but when a guy throws wide of first by 10 feet from 30 feet away, THAT’S AN ERROR. And when the same guy goes 15 feet to his left to get a ball and then has it go off his glove, THAT’S AN ERROR. Call them errors.

The Jays are now 16-19. Last year, after 35 games, they were 16-19. So all is not lost. But ‘all’ might be behind the couch, and maybe they better look their soon.

No Jay of the Day today. Vlad had the high mark with a .03 WPA. Let’s give honorable mention to Piñango for the three hits and the only extra base hit.

Other Award: Lauer (-.12, sorry Eric, you are going to see an opener next time around), Varsho (-.09 for his 0 for 4, 3 k), Gimenez (-.08, 0 for 4), Clement (-0.7, plus the two errors), and Fluharty (-.08).

Cinco de Mayo tomorrow. We have Kevin Gausman (2-2, 3.10) vs. Drew Rasmussen (2-1, 2.64). Another 6:40 start time. They need time to all their fans into the park.

Names are a funny thing. Today’s Phillies starter has a name that accurately describes him: Aaron Nola is from Louisiana, where one can find New Orleans, or NOLA (he’s from Baton Rouge, but I have a good time with these puns, so I’m gonna laissez les bons temps rouler). Today’s Marlins starter has a name, that, unfortunately for the Phillies, did not describe him accurately: the quality of Janson Junk’s offerings was quite high today. Also, he’s not a junkballer, which seems like a tremendous missed opportunity.

The Phillies put Bryce Harper aboard against Junk via two-out double in the first, though couldn’t plate him. Similarly, the Marlins put one aboard against Nola, with the other three batters making outs.

The Phillies made a bit of progress in the second, putting two aboard, as Brandon Marsh smacked a single to right, and Alec Bohm reached on a bobbled ball error from Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez. But the end result was the same as their first frame, as they scored no runs. The inning ended when Justin Crawford fought Junk across nine pitches, ultimately grounding out to second.

The pattern was clear, and it was beautiful: one runner in the first, two runners in the second. If it held, the Phillies would get three in the third, then the Phillies would get their fourth baserunner, and their first run, in the fourth. It was elegant and symmetrical, and just-so, and Bryce Harper ruined it by hitting a solo homer to right in the third. Extremely inconsiderate of him.

More considerate was Nola, who provided a steady hand for the visitors. He allowed some scattered baserunners through four, but allowing none to advance past first. He was aided in this by Garrett Stubbs, who put out two Fish trying to steal second.

But the Phillies produced a lot of junk against Junk, and as the sixth dawned, they had still just the one run to their name. Junk, after a start that very much did not live up (down?) to his name, took his leave after inducing an out from Harper and surrendering a single to Adolis García. He was replaced with a hurler who had a significantly more noble-sounding name: John King. King, by royal decree, exiled the remaining Phillies back to their dugout.

Nola kept the Fish flailing through the sixth, with the home club still unable to reach third base. But the Phillies did some phlailing of their own, finishing four consecutive innings without getting a baserunner past first. Nola’s day ended after six (5 H, 5 K, 0 BB, 0 ER), and Tanner Banks came on. Would he live up to his name, by being cash money?

He would. The inning got off to a bit of a rough start as Xavier Edwards made it to first when Trea Turner bobbled a ball. But Banks was unfazed, and tossed the next three Fish back into the sea. Speaking of bodies of water, the next Marlin on the mound was Lake Bachar. Would he live up to his name, by drowning the Phillies?

He would. Harper broke his bat as he bounced a ball into center for a single, but Bachar battled back, putting Harper’s compatriots away and stranding everyone’s favorite fan of the Phanatic on first. The Phillies, still clinging to a 1-0 lead, put José Alvarado on the mound to keep the Marlins on the hook in the eighth. Like Banks and Nola before him, he proved unsolvable for Miami. We thus entered the ninth in a holding pattern. And it held, at least for the Phillies, who went down in order.

Brad Keller was tasked with sending the Marlins home without a run to hang their caps on. He allowed a leadoff single to Kyle Stowers (immediately replaced with Javier Sanoja as a pinch runner), then induced a classic double play ball to put the Marlins on the brink. Edwards came to the plate in the thrilling, chilling position of being both the potential tying run and the potential final out.

He was neither. He singled to right, then saw the game end as Liam Hicks broke his bat on a little chopper to Stott. Thus, we saw exactly what we hoped to see. Namely, a Phillies win.

The Phillies are 15-20. They return home to start a three-game set against their old neighbors, the Athletics, tomorrow at 6:40.

The Mariners, fresh off a brutal sweep at the hands of the Royals, now have to face one of the best teams in baseball, the Atlanta Braves. Read more about what’s coming in the series preview.

To make matters worse, the Mariners are getting steadily more injured without much help on the immediate horizon. Brendan Donovan will start a rehab assignment with Arkansas tomorrow, but he won’t be back for this series; Victor Robles is currently on a rehab assignment in Tacoma but similarly won’t be with the club until next series at the earliest. Cal Raleigh remains out with his mysterious side injury, with no indication from the club about the severity of the injury. The bullpen took another hit today with the news that Gabe Speier is headed to the IL with shoulder inflammation; Matt Brash remains out with his lat issue. The injury bug saw his shadow and that means six more weeks of winter, in which winter is “Leo Rivas, everyday third baseman” and “Mitch Garver, everyday catcher” and “recruiting bullpen help from local travel teams.” It’s rough out here, folks.

Lineups:

This picture is doing everything it can to spark joy.

Local kid JR Ritchie, who grew up on Bainbridge Island, gets the start tonight for the Braves, so don’t be too surprised if you hear a lot of cheering when he strikes a Mariner out – apparently he’s going to have quite a support squad in the building.

Injury updates:

Unfortunately these are all bad, for the Mariners. LHP Gabe Speier is headed to the IL with shoulder inflammation. Read more here.

Atlanta, conversely, is getting healthier. They welcome back their catcher Sean Murphy today; catcher and old AL West foe Jonah Heim was DFA’d in a corresponding move, which unfortunately means there’s a chance he could be a Texas Ranger again. The Braves are still fairly beat up, though; Michael Harris II isn’t in tonight’s lineup as he battles a quad injury, and Ronald Acuña Jr. will miss this entire series with a hamstring injury.

Tonight’s game information:

Game time: 6:40 PT

TV: Mariners TV, with Aaron Goldsmith and Dave Valle, with Angie Mentink as the field analyst

Radio: Seattle Sports 710 AM, with Rick Rizzs and Aaron Goldsmith

The San Francisco Giants begin a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres tonight from Oracle Park.

Game #35

Who: San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres

Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California

When: 6:45 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

Michael Kay honored the late John Sterling on Monday night by replicating his well-known home run call for Aaron Judge in the bottom of the first inning. 

Sterling, the longtime Yankees broadcaster, died Monday at 87 years old.

Kay paid homage to his friend and former broadcast partner — having called games on the radio with Sterling from 1992-2001 on 770 AM WABC — when Judge hit a two-run blast to right center field to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead over the Orioles. 

“It is high! It is far! It is gone!” Kay belted, using the same home run call that Sterling made famous while calling Yankee games. “Aaron Judge! A Judgian blast! Here comes the Judge!”

"It is high! It is far! It is GONE! Aaron Judge! A Judgian blast! Here comes the Judge!"

Michael Kay with the John Sterling tribute call on an Aaron Judge home run in the first inning. #MLBpic.twitter.com/wzf4MVthCM

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 4, 2026

All were phrases that Sterling used to call an Aaron Judge home run. 

Sterling was synonymous with Yankee baseball, calling games on the radio for 36 years. 

His death led to tributes from across the baseball world, and Kay became emotional during his radio show on ESPN New York earlier Monday in recalling Sterling’s reasoning for making such a big push to walk again. 

Kay said that Sterling had been bedridden and lost the ability to walk after open-heart surgery following “so many heart attacks that it would’ve killed most people.”

The Yankees TV voice said that Sterling had been “really pushing” his rehab in order to walk his oldest daughter down the aisle when she gets married over the summer. 

“’Michael, I have to walk her down the aisle’,” Kay recalled him saying to him, having to pause as he became emotional. “And that’s why he was hanging on. But he had trouble about a week ago, heart failure, and he finally succumbed today. But he’ll be walking her down as he looks down on his family.

“The one thing he wanted to do, he was unable to make it.”

Sterling’s presence was felt around Yankee Stadium quite a bit on Monday as the Yankees battled the Orioles. 

The players wore hats with “JS” written on the back of them, and prior to the game, a moment of silence was held as Kay and Suzyn Waldman — Sterling’s broadcast partner — laid flowers at home plate.

Prior to the game, Judge told reporters that “fans all around the country are going to remember his voice” when he was asked about Sterling.

“I’m just going to remember he brought that New York theatre to the ballpark is the best way to describe it,” Judge said.

The last time the White Sox saw the Angels was just last week, and it ended with a White Sox sweep at home. This time, the Good Guys are coming off a series win against the Padres during this latest West Coast road trip, and seeing the somehow even worse-for-wear Angels for the second and last time this season.

A quick update: Randal Grichuk has agreed to a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the White Sox. I will leave a screenshot of a viral post from April 17, 2019, for no particular reason.

In other news, Austin Hays has landed back on the injured list (retroactive to May 2) with a left calf strain, and Tanner Murray (shoulder surgery) has been transferred to the 60-day injured list.

Now onto tonight’s late-night lineup. Davis Martin is on the mound tonight for the visitors. Martin has been electric, with a record of 4-1, 33 strikeouts, and a stellar ERA of just 1.95 over 37 innings. Sam Antonacci leads off, and Drew Romo is behind the plate.

José Soriano will be on the mound for the home team. Soriano was just named American League Pitcher of the Month, and is the third pitcher all-time to finish April with 5+ wins, 49+ strikeouts, and an ERA of less than 1.00, joining Randy Johnson (2000 Diamondbacks) and Jered Weaver (2011 Angels).

We’ll hopefully be in for a good duel tonight.

Tonight’s matchup starts at 8:38 p.m. CT. You can watch on CHSN or listen on ESPN Chicago 1000.

The Atlanta Braves just can’t loose a series, and they intend to keep it that way.

The Seattle Mariners are sitting third in their division and hoping to turn their season around before the halfway mark, starting by taking down the MLB record-leading Braves.

Tonight’s showdown will feature JR Ritchie kicking off near his hometown. Let’s see if he and the offense can give the Mariners a commanding start to make his statement back.

First pitch is set for 9:40 p.m. EDT

Preview

Lineup

Anthony Volpe will likely be starting at shortstop Tuesday, when he plays his first non-rehab-assignment minor league game in more than three years.

But as he begins a stint with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, with an uncertain end date after being optioned there Sunday night at the end of his rehab assignment, it bears watching if and when the Yankees will have him start to work at other positions to give him a better chance to eventually return to The Bronx.

“We’ll see,” manager Aaron Boone said Monday before the series finale against the Orioles. “Right now, he’s going to play shortstop. If we have those conversations as the days unfold, we’ll have those. But not right now.”

That left the door slightly more open than Boone had Sunday before the Yankees announced the decision to send Volpe to Triple-A, with José Caballero having done enough over the first 34 games to take over the starting shortstop job for the time being.

And while a downturn from Caballero could create an opening for Volpe to come back up, after he started 455 games at shortstop out of the Yankees’ 486 games from 2023-25, the complicating factor is that top prospect George Lombard Jr. is now at Triple-A after a promotion from Double-A.

Lombard, also a natural shortstop, has been sprinkling in some third base and (last year) second base, but it is hard to believe he will stop playing shortstop altogether. And when he does, where will that leave Volpe?

“George, like he’s done a lot, will bounce around,” Boone said. “We’ll keep revisiting this as we move through it. But George has already had a lot of experience playing third, second, short, all very well. It won’t be anything too different for George.”

Aaron Judge, who spoke to Volpe by phone for 30-40 minutes Sunday night, said the shortstop being optioned was “tough” and a “surprise,” but also acknowledged that Caballero playing well made it “kind of tough to move things around.” The captain hinted that Volpe becoming more versatile could work in his favor.

“I know he’s going to be more motivated than ever to come back here,” Judge said. “Anthony’s a big piece of what we’re doing here moving forward.

“I’m excited to see him come back here, if there’s a way to find — if it’s even him as a utility guy, anything, just to get himself back up here.”

Boone, who also spoke with Volpe on Sunday night, said the 25-year-old took the news “like a pro.”

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND YANKEES STATS

“I’m sure he’s not thrilled about it and doesn’t necessarily love that idea, because he’s obviously worked really hard to go through this [rehab from shoulder surgery],” Boone said. “Going into this, we expected him to be, once his rehab was up, to be here and playing. So that’s obviously changed over the last few weeks. But I think there’s part of him that gets it too. Anthony’s a pro and I have no doubt he’ll handle it in the best way possible.”

Boone, who has been one of Volpe’s biggest supporters throughout his big league career, insisted that the decision to option him does not change how the organization feels about him now or in the future.

“But in this moment of time, we felt like this was absolutely the right thing to do,” Boone said. “Hopefully this gives him even some more time to accumulate those everyday reps and things like that and we’ll keep evaluating.”

Ben Rice was out of the lineup Monday after leaving Sunday’s game with a left hand contusion.

The first baseman was “still sore,” Boone said, and felt like he could not get his best swing off. But the Yankees were hoping to get him back in the lineup in the coming days.

New York Yankees announcers paid tribute to the team's longtime broadcaster, John Sterling, during their May 4 game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Sterling, who passed away at 87 on May 4, was well known to baseball fans beyond New York City for his home run calls.

As fate would have it, Aaron Judge presented the perfect moment for the team's current broadcasters to honor the iconic broadcaster. In the bottom of the first inning, Judge launched a two-run home run, and Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay did his best Sterling impression.

"It is high! It is far! It is gone! Aaron Judge! A Judgian blast! Here comes the Judge!" Kay roared into the microphone during the broadcast on YES Network.

It is high! It is far! It is GONE! pic.twitter.com/Kd8OoUmBTb

— MLB (@MLB) May 4, 2026

MORE: Retired Yankees announcer John Sterling was so much more than a friendly voice on the radio

Before the game, Kay and fellow Yankees broadcaster Suzyn Waldman paid their respects by placing flowers on home plate.

Michael Kay and Suzyn Waldman place a bouquet of flowers on home plate before the Yankees have a moment of silence for John Sterling. pic.twitter.com/L6yz1eDFm7

— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) May 4, 2026

Yankees players did their part, wearing John Sterling's initials stitched into the back of their caps.

JS 💙 pic.twitter.com/ODvqpBSGJm

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 4, 2026

Yankees manager Aaron Boone admitted that he mimics Sterling's famous "theeee Yankees win" after his team's victories.

"My coaches look at me like I’m nuts. I don’t even know if they know what I’m doing," Boone said. "As soon as that final out is made and I get up to shake players' hands, I go, 'Ballgame over, Yankees win, theeee Yankees win!''

"I've got goosebumps thinking about it."

Aaron Boone says he channels John Sterling's iconic "THEEEEEEEE YANKEES WIN!" call in the dugout at the end of each Yankees victory:

"My coaches look at me like I'm nuts" 😂 pic.twitter.com/50SXDm4mny

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 4, 2026

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yankees pay tribute to John Sterling during game against Orioles

SAN FRANCISCO — One of the top hitting prospects in baseball joined the league’s worst offense Monday when the Giants called up 21-year-old first baseman Bryce Eldridge.

“He likes what he’s walking into,” Tony Vitello, manager of the 13-21 squad, said. “I’ll say that.”

The Giants rank last in the league in runs scored. They plated nine over the course of their most recent road trip while losing all six games. They rank last in walks and home runs, too.

This is no soft landing: They’re counting on the 6-foot-7 slugger to help turn things around.

In that case, some good news:

“I’m feeling sexy at the plate right now,” Eldridge said with a grin to a horde of more than a dozen reporters and cameras in front of his locker, where a No. 8 jersey hung.

Eldridge has been tearing the cover off the ball since the Giants optioned him to Triple-A in the final week of spring training, as has his more contact-oriented teammate, utility man Jesus Rodriguez.

Both players were added to the roster and in the lineup for the start of their home stand against the Padres on Monday. Trevor McDonald was also recalled to make a spot start.

In corresponding moves, Jerar Encarnacion, who is out of options, was designated for assignment, Will Brennan, another seldom-used outfielder, was optioned to Triple-A, and left-hander Erik Miller was placed on the injured list.

Miller, arguably the club’s top reliever, isn’t expected to miss more than the minimum 15 days, Vitello said. The same lower back issue that sidelined him in spring training flared up again, he said.

Rodriguez, who also plays second base and left field, was behind the plate at catcher for his major-league debut. Acquired from the Yankees last summer for Camilo Doval, Rodriguez has hit above .300 in all six previous minor-league seasons and is batting .330 with an .840 OPS in 24 games this year.

“That guy puts the bat on the ball a lot,” Eldridge said. “I love hitting behind him.”

Rodriguez has more walks (12) than strikeouts (11) this season, and while Eldridge is still striking out more than the Giants would like (29.9% in 137 plate appearances at Triple-A), he has also upped his walk rate (a career-high 15.3%). The Giants’ 69 walks in 34 games are 18 fewer than the next-closest team. They’re on pace to draw their fewest bases on balls in more than a century.

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The patience has been a product of a concerted approach, Eldridge said. He was batting .333 with an on-base percentage of .445 and a .963 OPS at Triple-A. As a team, the Giants’ .287 on-base percentage is tied with the Mets for the worst in the majors.

“I think a big thing for me was taking my walks,” Eldridge said. “Getting on base is huge for me. Being a power guy, starting to realize guys are trying to pitch around me more than attacking me, at that level at least. … Being a power guy, there’s going to be strikeouts involved and whatnot. You can say all you want about that, but if I’m getting on base and I’m walking, I think it all evens out.”

The group Eldridge joined was also seeking its first home run in more than a week, stuck at 19 for the season since last Sunday — still the last team below 20. Their two top sluggers, Rafael Devers and Willy Adames, have been stuck in season-long slumps, leaving San Francisco searching for any kind of thump it can get.

Their most productive hitter has been Casey Schmitt, leaving Vitello with decisions to make regarding how to juggle the combination of Schmitt, Eldridge, Adames, Devers and third baseman Matt Chapman.

Chapman got the night off Monday, with Schmitt at third and Eldridge at DH. Vitello didn’t rule out the possibility of using Schmitt in the outfield, a spot he’s never played in the big leagues.

While Vitello didn’t want to commit to Eldridge as an “everyday” player, he said he wanted to make sure Eldridge and Rodriguez both got a “fair shot” with more than “sporadic” opportunities.

“He’s gotta be given room for error,” Vitello said. “There’s gotta be a longer leash.”

San Diego Padres (20-13) at San Francisco Giants (13-21), May 4, 2026, 6:45 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Oracle Park – San Francisco, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan at

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The Rockies out-hit the Mets 5-4 on Monday, but it sure didn’t feel like it.

Colorado was held scoreless and limited to one hit through six innings, and two runs in the seventh weren’t enough to beat New York. Tomoyuki Sugano had a no-hitter going through five, but gave up three straight hits in the sixth to give the Mets a lead they never lost.

The Mets (13-22) have now won three of their last four, while the Rockies (14-22) have lost four in a row. Mickey Moniak doubled and tripled, but was left on base both times. At least he extended his hitting streak to 17 games.

Sixth not as sweet for Sugano

For five innings, Tomoyuki Sugano was unhittable. His one mistake was a walk to Carson Benge in the third inning, but it was quickly erased when Francisco Alvarez hit into a double play. Sugano was efficient, only needing 40 pitches to get through the first four innings. Through five innings, aided by a strong wind blowing in from center field, Sugano had one strikeout and seemed well on his way to a quality start.

However, the bottom of the Mets lineup figured out Sugano on their second time through. On the second pitch of the inning, Benge hit a cutter 436 feet into the bullpen beyond center field to put the Mets up 1-0.

Alvarez and Luis Torrens followed with back-to-back doubles to put New York ahead 2-0.

Juan Soto then drew a walk before Sugano got Bo Bichette to ground out in a fielder’s choice that moved the runners to second and third. It also knocked Sugano (2-3, 3.41 ERA) out of the game.

Jaden Hill entered and almost avoided further damage when he struck out MJ Melendez to give the Rockies two outs. That’s when Mark Vientos hit a two-run single to double the Mets’ lead.

Hill ended the inning by striking out Baty, but the damage was done.

Mets bullpen quiets Rockies bats to start game

For six innings, the Mets bullpen day was effective against the Rockies. Huascar Brazobán hit Tyler Freeman in the first inning, and even though he stole second, nothing came of it.

Austin Warren entered in the second and threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. He did give up a double to Mickey Moniak with two outs in the third. Freeman appeared to almost to drive him in, but he was robbed of a run-scoring hit when Benge made a diving catch to end the inning.

Colorado native David Peterson took over on the mound in the fourth and was lights out for New York. In his first three innings of work, Peterson struck out six of the nine batters he faced to help the Mets carry a 4-0 lead into the seventh.

Beck busts through

With two outs in the seventh, Willi Castro got the Rockies’ first hit since the third inning and the second total when he hit a bloop single to left-center field. Jordan Beck came up with a clutch triple when Benge fell trying to turn to run to the wall, allowing Castro to score the Rockies’ first run. Kyle Karros, despite going down 0-2 in a seven-pitch at-bat, followed up with a single to plate Beck to shrink the deficit.

Unfortunately, Ezequiel Tovar flied out to right to end the rally.

Mejia’s magic and a wasted chance

Juan Mejia relieved Hill and was untouchable in the seventh and eighth for the Rockies. Mejia faced six batters, striking out five of them, including Soto. Mejia kept the Rockies in the game, as did Brennan Bernardino, who threw a scoreless ninth.

Moniak did what Moniak does in the eighth, hitting a one-out triple, but the Rockies couldn’t take advantage. Freeman struck out and TJ Rumfield flied out to left. In the ninth, the Rockies had the hitters they wanted up, but Hunter Goodman and Castro flied out and Troy Johnston ended the game with a pitch-hit strikeout.

Up Next

The Rockies will play the Mets in game two of the series tomorrow. Michael Lorenzen (2-3, 6.09 ERA) will get the start for the Rockies, while New York will send Freddy Peralta (1-3, 3.52 ERA) to the mound. Game time is set for 6:40 p.m., but stay tuned to Purple Row for updates on the weather developments at Coors Field.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

DENVER — Carson Benge’s full toolbox is open for business.

There is plenty to like about the Mets rookie, starting with his superior outfield range and throwing arm. But lately his bat has entered the equation, giving the team a glimpse of his full skill set.

He had a second highlight-reel catch in as many games Monday, before continuing his recent offensive uptick with a home run in helping the Mets to a 4-2 victory over the Rockies at Coors Field. The victory was the team’s third in four games to begin the road trip.

It wasn’t a perfect day for Benge — he stumbled retreating on a fly to center in the seventh, giving Jordan Beck an RBI double that extended the inning. But the Mets survived it to defeat the Rockies for the first time in four tries this year.

Benge, who has reached base five times over the past two games, credited his recent play to uncluttered thoughts. He is 10-for-33 (.303) over his past 11 games.

“Go out there and your mind is blank, you play the game as hard as you can, not worrying about anything,” Benge said.

Among Benge’s promising underlying numbers entering play was an average exit velocity of 90.6 mph, which placed him in MLB’s 69th percentile. Benge’s chase rate of 25.6 percent ranked in the 70th percentile. His whiff percentage of 22.7 percent placed him in the 63rd percentile.

The 23-year-old former first-round draft pick won a starting job in spring training, and any thoughts of optioning him to Triple-A Syracuse to work on his at-bats were quickly displaced by the reality that the Mets need healthy bodies.

“I have been impressed with how he’s handled the whole situation, how steady he has been, how professional, how mature he’s been,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Those are some really good signs from a young player getting to face the big league level for the first time.”

Huascar Brazobán, utilized as an opener, pitched a scoreless first inning. Brazobán plunked Tyler Freeman, who stole second, but then got the final two outs in the inning before Austin Warren pitched a scoreless second and third.

Warren received help from Benge, who raced into right-center and snagged Freeman’s shot for the final out in the third with Mickey Moniak on second base. A day earlier, Benge lunged full extension in right field to rob the Angels’ Vaughn Grissom of a possible ninth-inning double.

But Benge downplayed his latest catch, unhappy that he stumbled tracking Beck’s ball in the seventh.

“I fell on my face, so those cancel out,” Benge said. “Bad read, you can’t get them all.”

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Benge walked in the third to serve as the only Mets base runner until the sixth, when he homered leading off against Tomoyuki Sugano.

“He’s swinging at better pitches and laying off pitches out of the strike zone,” Mendoza said. “We saw it [Sunday]; a couple of times he walked. That is going to help.”

But the Mets weren’t finished in the inning. Alvarez and Luis Torrens stroked consecutive doubles, extending the lead to 2-0. Juan Soto walked before Mark Vientos’ two-run single widened the lead further.

Vientos, who homered twice Sunday, hit long drives to left field for outs in his first two plate appearances Monday before hammering a line-drive single that scored the two runs.

After Benge stumbled on Beck’s fly to right-center, allowing the first Rockies run, Kyle Karros stroked an RBI single against David Peterson that sliced the Mets lead to 4-2. Peterson stifled the rally by retiring Ezequiel Tovar for the final out.

Peterson pitched four innings with two runs allowed before Craig Kimbrel worked a scoreless eighth and Devin Williams earned the save with a perfect ninth.

The top three picks in the the Athletes Unlimited Softball League college draft, held Monday night, were all pitchers.

Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens was the No. 1 overall pick by the Carolina Blaze, Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady was selected second by the Texas Volts with the pick and Belmont’s Maya Johnson was drafted third overall by the Oklahoma City Spark.

The draft featured 17 selections by six teams from a pool of college players who were given “Golden Tickets” this year to make them eligible for the draft.

Megan Grant of UCLA was the first non-pitcher selected, taken fourth overall by the Portland Cascade. She was one of three Bruins drafted, which led all college teams, as Jordan Woolery and Taylor Tinsley were also selected.

The AUSL will play its second full season this summer and is pivoting from being a touring league to having teams based in six cities throughout the country. The season begins on June 9 and ESPN will carry 50 AUSL games annually, including the championship series.

Here’s the full results of Monday’s draft:

Round 1, Pick 1, Carolina Blaze: Karlyn Pickens | P, Tennessee

Pickens has been named SEC Pitcher of the Year in each of the last two seasons and is in the midst of putting together another strong season for the Lady Vols. The 6-foot-1 native of Weaverville, North Carolina is eighth nationally in earned run average (1.44) and first in hits allowed per seven innings (3.06). She holds the record for throwing the fastest pitch in the history of Division I softball, clocking 79.4 mph in last year’s Super Regional.

Round 1, Pick 2, Texas Volts: NiJaree Canady | P, Texas Tech

The 6-foot right-hander from Topeka, Kansas, ranks sixth nationally in ERA (1.30), fourth in hits allowed per seven innings (3.48) and 10th in total strikeouts (194). Canady is the highest paid player in college softball, earning more than $1 million from Texas Tech’s NIL collective, the Matador Club. Last season she was a consensus first-team All-American and named National Pitcher of the Year by D1 Softball and NFCA.

Round 1, Pick 3, Oklahoma City Spark: Maya Johnson | P, Belmont

The first mid-major player to receive a golden ticket from the AUSL, Johnson leads the nation in ERA with a 0.72 mark. Johnson was an All-American and the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year last season. She’s 49-8 as a starting pitcher over the last two seasons.

Round 1, Pick 4, Portland Cascade: Megan Grant | UTL, UCLA

Grant is having her best offensive season, hitting .477 with 35 home runs, 75 RBI and 1.326 slugging percentage, which leads the Bruins. She also leads the nation in walks per game with 1.16. Grant — who has also played for UCLA’s women’s basketball team — is a two-time consensus All-American. She’s started double-digit games at right field, first base and third base across her career for the Bruins.

Round 1, Pick 5, Chicago Bandits: Jocelyn Erickson | C, Florida

A left‑handed hitter with power, Erickson was the SEC and NFCA Division I Player of the Year in 2024. Last season, she had a .997 fielding percentage with one error in 315 chances. Erickson is having the best offensive season of her career with a .424 batting average and .901 slugging percentage. She’s also hit a career-best 19 home runs so far this season.

Round 1, Pick 6, Utah Talons: Jordan Woolery | INF, UCLA

Woolery has been instrumental to UCLA’s success, starting every game of her college career — 232 and counting — as a cornerstone of the Bruins’ offense and infield. She's hitting .513 this season with 33 home runs and 106 RBI this season. Woolery is a two-time consensus All-American.

Round 2, Pick 1, Carolina Blaze: Reese Atwood | C, Texas

Atwood has been rewriting the Longhorns' record books since she arrived in Austin. She’s known for her power as a hitter and leadership as a catcher. She holds Texas school records for career home runs (71), RBI (276) and slugging percentage (.744).

Round 2, Pick 2, Texas Volts: Leighann Goode | INF, Texas

Known for her speed and consistency at the plate, Goode is hitting .377 this season through 46 games. She usually bats second and is able to get on base for players like Atwood to bring her in. Goode plays both second base and shortstop and has a .967 career fielding percentage with 311 putouts.

Round 2, Pick 3, Portland Cascade: Sydney Stewart | C, Arizona

Stewart has elite plate discipline with 131 career walks in 461 plate appearances. She has 36 of her 43 homers in the past two seasons and has notched 160 career RBI. Stewart is also a strong defensive presence behind the plate. She received her golden ticket from Arizona legend Jennie Finch.

Round 2, Pick 4, Oklahoma City Spark: Peja Goold | P, Mississippi State

The last player to receive a Golden Ticket, Goold has developed into one of the best pitchers in the SEC, ranking fourth in the conference with 164 strikeouts. She boasts a .177 batting average-against that would be top-five in single-season program history for the Bulldogs. Before transferring to Mississippi State, Goold was the two-time Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year for Chattanooga.

Round 2, Pick 5, Chicago Bandits: Taryn Kern | INF, Stanford

Kern has a rare combination of power, on‑base skills and defensive versatility. She played her freshman season at Indiana and won Big Ten Player of the Year before transferring to Stanford. Kern has 18 homers and 43 RBI this season. She has the fourth-best OPS in the ACC with a 1.463 mark.

Round 2, Pick 6, Utah Talons: Taylor Tinsley | P, UCLA

The third Bruin selected in the draft, the 5-foot-7 right-hander from Lawrenceville, Georgia was an All-American last season and has established herself as UCLA’s ace. She has 26 wins this season, which is tied for second nationally.

Round 3, Pick 1, Chicago Bandits: Ailana Agbayani | INF, Oklahoma

The second baseman from Hawaii was named to the SEC’s All-Defense team last season and won a Gold Glove award. She was previously the Defensive Player of the Year in the West Coast Conference. At the plate, she’s hitting for a .385 average this season with six home runs and 13 stolen bases.

Round 3, Pick 2, Oklahoma City Spark: Amari Harper | UTL, Oregon

Harper is hitting for a .401 average this season, her first at Oregon after transferring in from Texas A&M where she was an All-SEC selection. She also has 15 home runs and 47 RBI.

Round 3, Pick 3, Portland Cascade: Kenzie Brown | P, Arizona State

A three-time Big 12 Pitcher of the Week this season, Brown is 13-6 on the season with 222 strikeouts. A former All-American, she struck out 13 Oklahoma batters earlier this season. She has 11 games with double-digit strikeouts this year.

Round 3, Pick 4, Carolina Blaze: Dakota Kennedy | OF, Arkansas

One of the best defensive outfielders in college softball, she won the 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 111 putouts. Kennedy this season is hitting for a .343 average with 14 home runs.

Round 3, Pick 5, Portland Cascade: Kenleigh Cahalan | INF, Florida

Cahalan is a left‑handed hitting infielder who began her career at Alabama, where she started every game as a freshman and sophomore. She has played shortstop, third base and second base. Cahalan has a career .961 fielding average. At the plate, she’s hitting for a .379 average this season with 15 homers.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 AUSL Draft results: Texas Tech star NiJaree Canady picked second