It was a beautiful day, and Kodai Senga was in control during the six innings he pitched. Everything felt right at Citi Field until it didn’t.
While covering first base on a grounder from Pete Alonso, Senga received a high throw and awkwardly landed, injuring his right hamstring. He fell to the ground, unable to continue, and the Mets ultimately secured a 4-3 win, pulling off a sweep against the Nationals.
Coach Carlos Mendoza announced Senga would be placed on the injured list due to the hamstring issue, and an MRI is scheduled for Friday to assess the damage.
Earlier in the day, Paul Blackburn, the team’s sixth starter, had been preparing in the bullpen, but now with Senga out, the Mets are facing a bit of a challenge. It’s a blow, especially since Senga had been performing remarkably well this season, following a solid showing at the All-Star Game.
Despite other players like Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea nearing their returns from minor league rehab, losing Senga is still a tough pill to swallow. He had pitched 5 2/3 innings without allowing a run, lowering his era to 1.47, which is among the best in MLB. He recorded just one hit and one walk while striking out five.
Senga had missed four months at the start of the 2024 season before making his debut in late July. Unfortunately, he left that game after just 5 1/3 innings due to calf tightness and was sidelined until October. His comeback was less than ideal as he pitched at less than full strength during the NLDS and NLCS.
Meanwhile, the Mets continued their winning streak, marking their sixth straight victory and securing sweeps in three of their last four series. They’re set to face Tampa Bay for three games starting Friday.
In the first inning, Jeff McNeil hit a three-run homer—his fourth in five games—giving the Mets an early 3-0 lead.
After walks from Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, McNeil cleared the fence for his seventh homer of the season. His recent performance has been impressive, highlighted by a pair of homers on Sunday in Colorado. He also delivered a walk-off single during the previous game against the Nationals.
Brandon Nimmo joined in, hitting his third homer in two games, extending the lead to 4-0 in the fifth inning.
In the final 3 1/3 innings, Jose Castillo, Juascal Brazovan, Lynn Stanek, and Edwin Diaz finished the game for the Mets. Stanek was charged with two runs in the ninth, followed by Diaz, who faced some pressure with runners on base but ultimately sealed the victory.
