Mets Notes: Luis Robert Jr. shines against former team, Carson Benge displays toughness after collision

After the Mets‘ 10-5 win over the White Sox on Saturday night, interim manager Andy Green and the players broke down the 16-hit, five-HR performance…

It was so nice, he had to do it twice

Playing against his former team for the first time this weekend, Luis Robert Jr. made his presence felt on Saturday night. The outfielder blasted two of the team’s five home runs, recording his first multi-homer game with New York, and said it was rewarding to do it in a place he played for six seasons.

“You know it feels good to hit home runs against any team to be honest with you,” Robert said via an interpreter. “But I will say it did feel good to hit the home runs here just because it was a stadium that I played so many games in, especially my whole career.”

Green said he was “really happy” to see Robert have a performance like he did, adding that “he deserves” it after working his way back from a long injury and rough season.

“Luis, I mean, the oppo home run is just so special from him,” Green said. “Hardly anybody in baseball hits a ball that hard the other way the way he does that so well. And then obviously he turned on the last one and crushed it, so those are great swings.”

He added: “He’s just having great at-bats, he’s put in a lot of work. He’s been grinding really hard. It’s fun to see somebody have success that works that hard.”

Robert has only played in 51 games this year, as he was placed on the IL on April 27 and didn’t return until July 20. Since coming back, the 29-year-old has struggled, but hopes Saturday’s game will help get him back on track for the rest of the year.

“I feel good, I feel a lot better compared to where I was in the beginning when I first came back,” Robert said. “But I think now, it’s just you got to continue to work, you got to continue to try to be as consistent as possible. I think that’s going to be the key for the rest of the season.”

Carson Benge feeling ‘pretty good’ 

Right fielder Carson Benge had a brief scare in the bottom of the third inning, as he crashed hard into the chain link fence and the ball popped out of his glove and over the wall for a HR.

The 23-year-old toughed it out to stay in the game and made up for it later in the fifth inning, launching a towering solo home run to go up 5-3. He finished 3-for-5 on the night and joked that getting the win helps make up for the collision.

“Pretty good, pretty good. After a win, that always makes it feel better,” Benge said.

He added on the play: “I saw it hit, I didn’t get the best read on it, can’t always be perfect. Went back on it fast toward the wall. And then kind of caught it in my glove, and then it popped out as I hit that fence.”

“First thing, I checked my glove and I saw it wasn’t in there, so I was kind of mad at that. After the adrenaline kind of wore off there quickly, I knew I was OK.”

Benge then explained why he wanted to keep playing after getting checked out by the trainers, and was proud he could get the run back for the team with the homer.

“I like playing the game,” Benge said. “I don’t want to be taken out for anything unless it’s anything too serious. Being able to get back in there and kind of take away the one I let up is good.”

Christian Scott hoping ‘to learn from’ tough outing

Scott had a tough outing Saturday night, allowing four runs on five hits over just 4.2 IP. His night ended after loading the bases in the fifth inning with two outs, and wishes he could have some of those at-bats back.

“Just didn’t really have it today,” Scott said. “Especially with the offspeed stuff, didn’t really locate the zone well. Thought the bullpen did a really good job coming in there and cleaning it up and obviously going the rest of the game. Thought the offense played really well.

“Just put us in a tough spot, especially after getting a lot of runs early. Wish I had a couple of those at-bats back. Bullpen did a great job, good to get the win.”

Overall, Scott threw 94 pitches against Chicago and said he’ll be able to use it as a learning experience, especially the fifth inning.

“Obviously hit a guy first pitch and then walk a guy, obviously want those at-bats back,” Scott said. “Just had to battle after that. Didn’t think I was locating my sweeper very well or my cutter very well. Something to learn from for sure, just grind it out.”