Apr 2, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets beginning pitcher Kodai Senga (34) pitches towards the Miami Marlins within the first inning at loanDepot Park. / Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports
Kodai Senga’s first main league outing bought off to a bumpy begin, however he in the end settled in for a profitable debut.
The 30-year-old, making his first Mets begin following an illustrious profession in Japan, bought right into a jam straight away, permitting an RBI double to Jorge Soler earlier than loading the bases with no one out within the first inning. To his credit score, although, Senga settled in and retired the following three hitters, two through strikeout, to get out of the inning with only one run allowed.
Senga was undoubtedly amped up for his first main league begin, and what most likely didn’t assist his trigger was the Mets placing collectively an extended prime of the primary inning towards Trevor Rogers. Making Rogers throw 36 pitches within the first helped give Senga a two-run lead, however he was additionally within the dugout for an prolonged time frame.
Senga’s fastball was within the excessive 90s, and whereas his ghost fork was a bit erratic to start out the sport, he ended up utilizing it to strike out two Marlins within the inning, and it solely bought higher from there.
After throwing 36 pitches within the first inning, Senga began his second inning with a stroll and a pitch clock violation, however a properly turned 4-6-3 double play bought him by way of the body.
Senga breezed by way of a simple third inning and continued rolling proper alongside, racking up strikeouts with that patented ghost fork.
The right-hander ended up going 5.1 innings, permitting one earned run on simply three hits. He struck out eight (all on the ghost fork) and walked three, throwing 89 pitches.
Senga left the sport with a three-run lead, and the Mets held on to win 5-1, because the righty earned his first main league win.