Benge, Ewing throw three Padres out at home in Mets’ win

Run on the Mets’ rookies at your own risk.

MLB teams keep learning that the hard way, with the San Diego Padres becoming the latest victims.

Carson Benge delivered two more outfield assists and A.J. Ewing added another — all at home plate — in the Mets’ 2-1 win over the Padres at Citi Field on Monday night.

“Without those kids on those corners, we don’t win that game,” Mets interim manager Andy Green said.

“That game could have swung wildly different without them playing the outfield so well.”

Monday’s defensive clinic started with Benge, who, on back-to-back plays in the top of the first, threw out Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado with rocket throws from right field.

The first occurred as Cronenworth tried to score on a Ty France single with one out. Benge unleashed a 99.9-mph laser that easily beat Cronenworth, who attempted to hurdle catcher Francisco Alvarez to no avail.

The next throw was even more impressive.

After Jackson Merrill lined a two-out single to right, Benge uncorked a 103.9-mph rope, resulting in another easy tag-out for Alvarez.

Benge’s 103.9-mph throw was the fastest outfield assist in the majors this season and the third-fastest on record since at least 2015, according to MLB. Only the Yankees’ Aaron Hicks (105.5 mph in April 2016) and Milwaukee’s Brett Phillips (104.0 mph in Sept. 2017) recorded faster outfield assists in that time frame.

Despite recording four consecutive singles against Mets starter Nolan McLean in the first inning, the Padres did not score thanks to Benge’s right-armed wizardry.

“I feel like I’ve always had a good arm, and an accurate one at that,” Benge, 23, said. “So being able to do that and make some pretty cool plays with the glove is pretty cool.”

The Padres threatened again in the second inning, loading the bases with no outs, but they managed only one run due in large part to the 22-year-old Ewing’s right arm.

With two outs, Cronenworth slapped a single to left field, and Xander Bogaerts tried to score from second. But Ewing scooped up the ball and hurled an accurate throw home, beating Bogaerts as he slid headfirst.

The defensive highlights limited the Padres to just one run through two innings, despite them totaling five hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch against McLean in that stretch.

“That fires me up,” said McLean, who improved to 9-8 with a 3.34 ERA. “You’re saving not only the team runs, but me runs as well.”

At one point, the Padres put seven consecutive men on base without scoring. They made four outs at home plate within the first two innings, with the other coming on a bases-loaded comebacker to McLean for the first out in the top of the second.

McLean settled in from there, tossing four more scoreless innings. All told, the right-hander allowed one run in six innings on six hits, four walks and three strikeouts.

Benge, who made his MLB debut on Opening Day, now boasts nine outfield assists, including at least one in each of the last three games.

This is the second time Benge has recorded multiple outfield assists in the same game, with the first instance coming on July 24 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s the first time Benge has accounted for multiple outs at home plate in one game.

“He’s been outstanding. And we expected him to be outstanding,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said before Monday’s game. “This is a very gifted player on both sides of the ball, and we expected really, really good defense. And we have gotten really, really good defense.”

Benge was a two-way player at Oklahoma State, where he was teammates with McLean, who also pitched and hit in college.

After being drafted by the Mets in the first round in 2024, Benge gave up pitching to focus on his development as a position player.

But, clearly, his arm remains an asset. Five of his outfield assists have come on throws of at least 98 mph, per MLB. Green credits Benge’s growth in the outfield in part to his quickened release on throws.

“He said, ‘When you don’t have to strike a batter out, it’s actually really easy to throw it over the plate.’ He feels good about it,” Green said. “It’s been ridiculous, honestly. It just doesn’t happen at this rate. You don’t get these opportunities, and you don’t execute perfectly every time the way he has.”

Ewing, who made his MLB debut on May 12, has recorded five outfield assists in 85 big-league games.

Daniel Duarte pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save, filling the closer role after Kodai Senga appeared in two of the previous three games. The Mets (57-69) have won four games in a row and 10 of their last 13.

“It’s always good to win games, no matter who it’s against,” Benge said. “Being able to keep this going will be huge for us.”