ATLANTA (AP) — After incomes his first profession save, New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga wished the ball as a souvenir.
Whoops!
Rookie teammate Carson Benge had already tossed it into the Atlanta crowd.
Lately shifted to a short-relief position in his fourth main league season, Senga closed out New York’s 8-5 victory over the Braves with a scoreless ninth inning Monday night time. Mauricio Dubón flied out to Benge in proper subject for the ultimate out, and he turned towards the stands trying to ship a fan dwelling with a memento.
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Senga, nicely conscious of his achievement, held out his arms in disbelief together with his mouth agape whereas watching the entire thing transpire. In a humorous scene, he raised each fingers attempting to seize Benge’s consideration as Senga and Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez each referred to as for the baseball in useless.
A sheepish Benge, when he realized what occurred, put each fingers on his head — and Senga doubled over in laughter.
After the sport, Senga was requested if Benge ever managed to retrieve the ball for him.
“I feel Bengie is attempting to inform me I ought to have simply punched him out,” a smiling Senga stated via an interpreter.
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Senga obtained the save alternative within the ninth as a result of the Mets positioned nearer Devin Williams on the 15-day injured listing earlier within the day. Interim supervisor Andy Inexperienced was non-committal earlier than the sport about who could be his nearer, however with New York main 8-5 he referred to as on Senga. The suitable-hander is 0-8 with an 8.12 ERA in eight begins and eight aid appearances this season.
Senga struck out Matt Olson and Michael Harris II to open the ninth, then issued a stroll to Ozzie Albies earlier than retiring Dubón.
Senga has not allowed a run in his final three appearances out of the bullpen. He came to visit from Japan and signed a $75 million, five-year contract to be a starter for the Mets earlier than the 2023 season. He went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 29 begins that yr, making the NL All-Star group and ending runner-up in Rookie of the Yr voting and seventh in Cy Younger Award balloting.
However he is largely struggled with accidents and ineffectiveness since, aside from a robust stretch early within the 2025 season.
The last-place Mets are 6-1 on a nine-game journey following a major selloff forward of final Monday’s commerce deadline that depleted their bullpen.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB