Benge, Alvarez blast off
Welcome to the big leagues, Carson Benge.
Benge, making his MLB debut, crushed a one-out, first-pitch sweeper from Pirates reliever Justin Lawrence into right-centerfield for a solo home run — his first career hit — to give the Mets a 10-5 lead.
Benge is the 11th player since 2000 to make his MLB debut for the Mets on Opening Day, and just the fourth position player since 2000 to make his MLB debut for the Mets on Opening Day. He's also now the second Met since 2000 to homer in his MLB debut on Opening Day. The other? Kaz Matsui in 2004.
Francisco Alvarez then made it back-to-back blasts, hitting Lawrence's 2-2 fastball 429 feet into the second deck in left-centerfield for an 11-5 lead.
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