Sean Manaea shines in Mets’ 7-3 win despite one regretful pitch

Sean Manaea’s recent resurgence on the mound continued to show promise on Sunday, even as he reflected on a pitch he wished he could take back. In a bulk relief role, the left-hander helped lead the New York Mets to a 7-3 victory over the San Diego Padres, allowing two earned runs on four hits across four innings.

This performance marked Manaea’s sixth consecutive solid outing since a rough appearance on May 6, where he struggled in Colorado, lasting just one-third of an inning. With the Mets holding a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning, Manaea faced a challenge when Freddy Fermin launched a two-run homer, prompting his exit before the sixth. “The first-pitch fastball to Fermin, I wish I got that back,” Manaea admitted. “But, yeah, [the outing] was OK.”

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza praised Manaea’s approach, especially against a lineup heavy with right-handed hitters. “He had to pitch today, which was good to see with so many righties, a heavy righty lineup,” Mendoza said. “For him to use the cutter, for him to use the changeup, [he] got swings and misses with the fastball. Not an easy lineup to navigate and I thought he did a really good job.”

In a notable offensive display, rookie Carson Benge made history by becoming the fourth Mets player to record a five-hit game that included a home run. He joined the ranks of Pete Alonso, Alex Ochoa, and John Milner in this impressive feat. Meanwhile, Mark Vientos found himself out of the starting lineup for the third time in four games, as Mendoza opted for Jared Young at first base and MJ Melendez in left field, allowing Juan Soto to take on designated hitter duties.

Vientos has been struggling lately, with his OPS tumbling from .703 to .617 over the past three weeks. Mendoza acknowledged the challenges Vientos is facing, stating, “It’s been hard for [Vientos], it’s been a rough stretch. He’s just got to continue to fight. He’s got to continue to come in every day with the mindset that there’s adjustments. He’s got to continue to work, and he’s been doing that, so off the field that is kind of some of the things we’re looking for.”

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.