Mets rookies Benge and Ewing deliver historic defensive feat against Padres

New York Mets rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing have etched their names into baseball history after combining to throw out three San Diego Padres runners at home plate during the first two innings of Monday night’s game. The defensive sequence made the Mets the only major league team since at least 1920 to record three outfield assists at the plate in the opening two innings of a match.

The historic run began in the first inning after the Padres loaded the bases with one out. Benge, the right fielder, fired a one-hop throw to tag Ty France, who attempted to jump over catcher Francisco Alvarez but tumbled to the turf. Moments later, despite San Diego hitting four straight singles in the frame, Benge threw out Manny Machado with a 103.9 mph strike to preserve the scoreline.

Ewing, the left fielder, matched his teammate’s intensity in the second inning. With the Mets holding a 2-1 lead, Ewing threw out Xander Bogaerts at the plate on a close play to maintain the advantage. The coordinated effort drew standing ovations from the Citi Field crowd for both players as they came off the field.

Benge’s performance continues a remarkable streak of defensive prowess. The 23-year-old rookie, who also pitched at Oklahoma State, has recorded four assists in a span of 13 innings over the past three days, including plays on Saturday against the Washington Nationals and Sunday. His nine total assists rank second among National League outfielders, trailing only Los Angeles Dodgers centre fielder Andy Pages, who entered the night with 13.

The game took place against the San Diego Padres, who are currently undergoing a significant transition in ownership. Major League Baseball recently approved the sale of the franchise to José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, adding a layer of institutional change to the backdrop of the on-field action.