Senga Returns, Mets Bats Remain Hot To Run Past Atlanta

 

Kodai Senga's first pitch of the night. Photo by Jason Schott.

It was a festive Friday night at Citi Field, as the Mets got a sensational outing from their ace, Kodai Senga, in his season debut, and fireworks long before the display after the game, as they blasted three home runs to roll past the Atlanta Braves, 8-4.

This win had a lot of significance, as it puts the Mets, who are now 55-48, ahead of Atlanta, now 54-48 and on a six-game losing streak, for the top Wild Card spot. The Mets have now won 13 of 17 games, and they are an astonishing 31-13 since June 3, when their ascent began.

Senga was spectacular from the jump, as he opened the game by striking out Jarred Kelenic, and then raced over to the bag to get the throw from Pete Alonso, who went to his right to snag a grounder from Austin Riley.

Jarred Kelenic striking out to open the game. Photo by Jason Schott.

Marcell Ozuna was then hit by a pitch, but Senga recovered by striking out Matt Olson looking to end the inning.

Travis d’Arnaud opened the second inning with a single, and he was erased in a force out hit into by Eddie Rosario.

Adam Duvall was up next, and he crushed one into the left-field corner for a two-run homer to put Atlanta up, 2-0.

Braves starter Charlie Morton retired the first five batters he faced before Mark Vientos and Jose Iglesias singled with two outs in the second. Carlos Alvarez popped out to second to end the threat.

That turned into the appetizer for what was to come in the third inning, which opened with Tyrone Taylor reaching on an error by third baseman Austin Riley.

Morton then hit Francisco Lindor with a pitch, and walked Brandon Nimmo on four pitches, which weren’t all that close, to load the bases.

J.D. Martinez was up next, and he crushed one to right field that just got over, and it was a grand slam to suddenly make it 4-2 Mets. 

J.D. Martinez receiving congratulations on his way to the dugout after his grand slam. Photo by Jason Schott.

It was the Mets’ designated hitter’s 11th home run of the season, along with 44 RBI. This was also the ninth grand slam of Martinez’s career, the third-most in baseball since his debut in 2011.

Then, with one out, Jeff McNeil crushed one to left-center field, off the base of the fence, and Vientos followed with a bomb to left for a two-run shot, and it was 6-2,

That wasn’t all, as Alvarez, with two outs, crushed one to nearly the same spot in left for a solo shot, the extra point if you will, and it was now 7-2 Mets, with Morton done for the night.

Senga kept it right there, as he retired the Braves in order in the fourth, with strikeouts of d’Arnaud looking and Duvall swinging.

The Mets added another run in the bottom of the fourth, as Daysbel Hernandez walked Vientos with the bases loaded to force in a run and make it 8-2 Mets.

Senga retired Atlanta in order in the fifth, notching two more K’s, and got an infield pop-up from Riley to open the sixth, and give him 10 straight outs recorded in a row.

Kodai Senga pitching to Orlando Arcia in the fifth inning, on his way to a strikeout. Photo by Jason Schott.

On the play, Senga came up lame as he was coming off the mound, clearing the way for Alonso to come in and grab the Riley pop-up by the mound. It appeared to be a lower leg injury, as he remained on the ground for a while, and he was pulled from the game with what was termed a left calf strain.

Senga’s superb final line was: 5 1/3 innings, 2 hits, 2 runs (both earned), 1 walk, 9 strikeouts, and 73 pitches, 52 of which were strikes.

Kodai Senga leaving the field to a standing ovation, along with his interpreter and the Mets trainer. Photo by Jason Schott.

On Saturday, the Mets placed Senga on the 15-day injured list due to the left calf strain. Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza said he is likely done for the season because he suffered a “high-grade” strain.