Benge Homers, Mets Batter Skenes In Opening Day Win

The sun was shining, the crowd was roaring, and the Mets were hitting. It was a picture-perfect Opening Day for the Mets, as they beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-7 at Citi Field.

David Stearns’ new-look lineup started off the season with a bang, piling up 11 hits, including two homers, a triple and a double. They shockingly drove reigning Cy Young award winner Paul Skenes out of the game before he finished an inning. Every Met but Lindor drove in at least one run, and the shortstop walked three times and scored three runs. They showed off a new offensive approach based on making contact and strong plate discipline, drawing nine walks against seven Pirates pitchers.

The Mets offense got the hit parade started against Skenes in their first turn at bat, though not without some help. After a Bo Bichette sacrifice fly drove in their first run, Brett Baty lined a bases-clearing triple over the head of center fielder Oneil Cruz, who took a wrong first step in. Cruz gave the Mets another gift on the very next batter, losing Marcus Semien’s fly ball in the sun to let Baty score, putting the Mets up 5-2.

Rookie Carson Benge had a major league debut to remember, smashing a solo homer in the sixth. Francisco Alvarez made it back-to-back with a blast of his own, giving the Mets an 11-5 lead.

Despite the offensive barrage, the win didn’t come without some heartburn. New ace Freddy Peralta wasn’t totally sharp in his Mets debut, giving up a first-inning two-run homer to Brandon Lowe, who then homered again in the third to get the Pirates within 5-3. Peralta went five innings, allowing four runs on six hits and no walks, along with seven strikeouts.

Tobias Myers, who was acquired with Peralta, allowed just one run on one hit in his three innings in relief. But Luis Garcia, another new Met, gave Pittsburgh some life in the ninth by allowing two runs before striking out Cruz to end the game. Mets pitchers didn’t walk a single batter.

The Mets are now 42-23 all-time on Opening Day, the best winning percentage of all teams despite losing their first eight in 1962.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Benge got a curtain call after his homer, and also gets the nod here by joining Kaz Matsui as the only Mets ever to homer on Opening Day in their MLB debut. He also had two walks, a steal, and two runs scored.

“I kind of blacked out rounding first,” Benge said after the game. “I don’t really remember too much.”

ON DECK

After an off day on Friday, the Mets and Pirates resume their three-game set on Saturday with David Peterson (9-6, 4.22 ERA in 2025) going up against righty Mitch Keller (6-15, 4.19 ERA in 2025). First pitch is 4:10 PM ET and the game airs on SNY.

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