Carson Benge sparks rally in Mets’ 4-2 win over Rockies

Even after going 1 for 2 with a home run and a walk against Colorado, Benge is still only hitting .192 on the season.

“I’d say there are definitely a little growing pains in there,” Benge said. “I’m sure there are still a few and many to come, but just being able to step in there with my same level of confidence I’ve always had is definitely a big thing.”

There have been signs of progress in recent games. He came into the game hitting .310 over his last eight starts, including a double and two walks Sunday in Anaheim. Play-by-play man Gary Cohen called a diving catch he made in the ninth inning Sunday “pulchritudinous.”

Benge made another one of those catches in center field Monday, helping out right-hander Austin Warren by robbing Tyler Freeman of extra bases. In the seventh, he misread one, resulting in an RBI triple by Jordan Beck. Benge got twisted up and tripped up, and the ball went well over his head and a few feet to his left. Willi Castro scored to break up the shutout attempt.

Benge joked that it canceled out his first catch, but still took it in stride.

“I’m not counting the one today, since I fell on my face,” he said. “Just a bad read. Can’t get them all, but I’d like to have that one back.”

Peterson then gave up a single to Kyle Karros that scored Beck, cutting the Mets’ lead in half.

Rockies’ righty Juan Mejia struck out the side in the top of the eighth, keeping the game within reach for the home team. Right-hander Craig Kimbrel then gave up a one-out triple to Mickey Moniak in the bottom of the inning, but retired the next two to keep the save opportunity intact for closer Devin Williams (four saves).

With the way Peterson has had trouble making it through the order three times this season, the solution has been to use an opener. Right-handers Huascar Brazobán and Warren pitched the first two innings, getting through the first seven hitters. Peterson, who grew up in nearby Aurora, held his hometown team to two earned runs on three hits, and struck out six for his first win of the season (1-4).

“The key is attacking the strike zone,” Mendoza said. “He pounded the strike zone today with everything.”

The Rockies (14-22) swept the Mets (13-22) last weekend at Citi Field, so this was a decidedly better performance from the Mets than the last time the two teams met. Weather threatens the rest of the series, but at least the Mets can take solace in the fact that they’ve won three of the first four games of this nine-game, three-city trip.

“It’s a testament to us just staying with our work,” Peterson said. “Knowing that it’s a long year, and if we continue a good process, we’ll eventually see some good results.”

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