New York ? In his first start, Kris Benson had stamina problems. In his second start, he had focus problems. So, Monday night’s third start was an important one for the New York Mets right-hander, slotted as the No. 3 man in their rotation.

Benson delivered, limiting Cincinnati to four hits in 7 2/3 innings in the Mets’ 9-2 victory. He struck out eight, walked two and left feeling good about what he had done.

“I stuck with my game plan, with what I’ve been concentrating on,” Benson said. “I feel like I’m getting back in the groove., Hopefully, I can continue with good outings.”

Mets manager Willie Randolph hopes so, too.

“Benson is a key for us,” he said. “He’s our No. 3. He came in and dominated. He had a good slider, a sinker down in the zone and good movement.”

Benson (1-1), who began the season on the disabled list because of a strained chest muscle, allowed just two hits after the second inning. He threw 112 pitches before Dae-Sung Koo relieved with two outs in the eighth.

He pitched 4 2/3 innings in his first start, then gave up four homers over six innings in his second start.

“The longer I pitch, the better I feel,” he said. “I feel now I’m where I need to be. I feel more relaxed. Today was a big jump. I threw a lot of pitches and I had a good outing.”

Benson benefited from six extra-base hits, one of them the 11th homer of the season by Cliff Floyd. New York scored four runs in the first two innings and provided a comfort zone for Benson.

“We kept scoring, and that was a relief for me,” he said.

New York Mets infielder Kazuo Matsui, right, smiles at first-base coach Jerry Manuel after Matsui's RBI single against Cincinnati. The Mets beat the Reds, 9-2, Monday in New York.

The Mets backed Benson with 13 hits.

Nationals 5, Brewers 2

Washington — Marlon Byrd went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs in his Nationals’ debut, Vinny Castilla homered, and Tony Armas Jr. was solid for seven innings, lifting Washington to its third straight victory.

Armas (1-1) earned his first win since last July 23 against the Florida Marlins. The right-hander was working on a pitch count and was lifted after over seven innings. He allowed two runs, five hits and two walks.

Padres 5, Braves 3

San Diego — Mark Sweeney hit a sacrifice fly with one out in the eighth inning to bring in the go-ahead run, and San Diego rallied to beat Atlanta in a matchup of two of baseball’s hottest teams.

The Padres, who’ve won 14 of 17, trailed 3-2 going into the eighth and rallied with four straight singles against reliever Chris Reitsma (1-2).

The Braves lost for just the fifth time in 15 games.

Scott Linebrink (1-1) pitched a perfect eighth for the win.

Marlins 6, Dodgers 2

Los Angeles — Brian Moehler pitched 62/3 effective innings, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Encarnacion homered, and Florida stopped a season-high three-game losing streak.

Brad Penny (2-2), facing the Marlins for the first time since they traded him to the Dodgers in July, allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings. It was his second straight shaky outing after he pitched 13 consecutive scoreless innings in his previous two starts.

Moehler (2-1) gave up two runs and nine hits. The 33-year-old right-hander hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of his five starts and four relief appearances this year.