Benge walk-off single in 10th gives Mets 3-2 win over Tigers, atones for earlier misplay

NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Carson Benge delivered his first big league walk-off hit, a 10th-inning single that atoned for a first-inning misplay and lifted the Mets past the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Wednesday night after New York star Juan Soto left the game with an ankle injury.

New York trailed 2-0 in the first after Benge dropped Dillon Dingler's catchable fly ball near the right-field warning track, which fell for a double, and Riley Greene followed with a two-run single off Christian Scott.

Tyrone Taylor had an RBI grounder in the second off Framber Valdez, who made his first start since a five-game suspension for intentionally hitting Boston’s Trevor Story with a pitch. Bo Bichette tied the score with a bloop RBI single in the seventh against Kyle Finnegan.

Soto was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh, four innings after he fouled a pitch off his right foot. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said X-rays were negative and Soto was day to day.

Benge, who debuted on opening day, hit a sharp one-out single to center off Drew Anderson (1-1) easily scored automatic runner A.J. Ewing, who made his own debut Tuesday. Benge had been thrown own out at the plate by shortstop Zack Short on a delayed double steal for the final out of the seventh as catcher Dillon Dingler applied the tag.

Brooks Raley (1-1) walked Matt Vierling with two outs in the 10th before he retiring Wenceel Pérez on a flyout.

Scott gave two runs and struck out five in 4 2/3 innings. He is winless in 13 major league starts, tying Colorado's Jon Gray in 2015 and '16 for most consecutive starts without a win opening a big league career.

Valdez allowed two runs and struck out seven.

Tigers RHP Keider Montero (2-2, 3.18 ERA) opposes Mets RHP Nolan McLean (1-2, 2.78 ERA) on Thursday.

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New York Mets' Carson Benge (3) hits a walk-off RBI single during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Mets' Carson Benge (3) celebrates with New York Mets' Luis Torrens after hitting a walk-off RBI single during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Mets' Carson Benge, center, is dunked with gatorade after hitting a walk-off RBI single during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Mets' Carson Benge (3) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off RBI single during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Mets' Carson Benge (3), right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off RBI single during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets star Juan Soto fouled a ball off his right foot, forcing him from the New York Mets' game against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night, and manager Carlos Mendoza said X-rays were negative.

“We got good news there, he’s day to day,” Mendoza said after the 3-2 victory. “See how he comes tomorrow, whether he’s a player for us in the starting lineup.”

Soto hopped toward the Mets dugout after fouling off Framber Valdez’s 2-0 pitch in the third inning. He dropped to one knee as he was tended to by an athletic trainer and Mendoza. Soto, the Mets’ designated hitter, remained in the game and struck out, then grounded out in the sixth.

“I was concerned as soon as he got hit, because it got him pretty good,” Mendoza said. “You could tell that he was in pain. And then just that (next) at-bat, he didn’t look right.”

Soto’s spot in the batting order came up with a runner on third base in the seventh after Bo Bichette’s tying single. MJ Melendez was at the plate as the pinch hitter when Carson Benge was thrown out at the plate by shortstop Zack Short on a delayed double steal as catcher Dillon Dingler applied the tag.

Soto, who missed 15 games last month with a strained right calf, was injured one night after teammate Francisco Alvarez tore the meniscus in his right knee while fouling off a pitch in the sixth inning of a 10-2 win. Alvarez will undergo surgery and is expected to miss at least six-to-eight weeks.

Soto went 0 for 3 and is 6 for 41 in May. He is hitting .263 with four homers and 11 RBIs.

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New York Mets designated hitter Juan Soto (22) reacts after getting hit by the ball on his ankle during the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Mets designated hitter Juan Soto reacts after getting hit by the ball on his ankle during the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)