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The Mets lost for the second straight night in Cincinnati, dropping Tuesday's game by a score of 5-3.
-- In his first start since re-joining the team after nearly two months on the injured list, Kodai Senga had a difficult first inning. After walking the first two batters he faced, with some pitches not even close, the right-hander served up a three-run homer to Sal Stewart that opened up the scoring. Three batters later, Spencer Steer, who was stuck in a 1-for-29 slump, launched a solo shot to give the Reds a 4-0 advantage.
-- Following Monday night’s 12-0 loss, it looked like things might get out of hand for New York once again. However, Senga managed to keep Cincinnati hitless for the next three innings and even showed some swing-and-miss stuff by striking out five in four innings.
-- Senga’s command was off for most of the night and he had trouble getting his secondary stuff over the plate, but the velocity on his fastball sat around 96-97 mph, which is always a good sign for the right-hander who threw 82 pitches (46 strikes) before getting pulled. The start wasn’t great, but it was good enough because of how Senga ended it to likely get him another one his next time through with the Mets desperate for starting pitchers at the moment.
-- Offensively, New York’s only run off Reds starter Brady Singer came in the third inning when Bo Bichette singled with runners on first and second to get the Mets on the board for the first time in the series. Bichette continued his incredible hot streak by finishing 2-for-5 at the plate for his fifth consecutive multi-hit game.
-- After Bichette’s run-scoring single, Juan Soto walked to load the bases, but just like in Monday’s game, where New York left the bases loaded three separate times without scoring a single run, the Mets were unable to cash in after Jared Young’s flyout ended the inning.
New York left the bases loaded again in the fourth inning and went 2-for-11 with RISP for the game.
-- Facing Cincinnati’s bereft bullpen in the sixth inning, the Mets were finally able to strike. With a runner on second and two outs, pinch-hitter Mark Vientos homered against the left-hander Sam Moll to get New York back in the game. The home run was Vientos’ first pinch-hit home run of his career and eighth of the season.
-- The Mets had another golden opportunity to get closer in the eighth after back-to-back walks by Marcus Semien and Brett Baty led off the frame, but strikeouts by Vientos and Francisco Alvarez and a groundout by Carson Benge ended the threat.
-- Soto singled in the ninth inning to get the tying run to the plate, but Eric Wagaman struck out and A.J. Ewing grounded out to end the game.
-- New York’s bullpen was once again awesome, giving up just a run in four innings. Austin Warren, Huascar Brazoban and Luke Weaver, who struck out the side in the eighth, were particularly great.
Stewart went 2-for-3 with a walk and four RBI.
The Mets and Reds finish their three-game series with a Wednesday matinee at 12:40 p.m. on SNY.
RHP Nolan McLean (3-4, 4.01 ERA) goes up against LHP Nick Lodolo (2-1, 5.21 ERA).
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Here are the key takeaways...
-- In his first start since re-joining the team after nearly two months on the injured list, Kodai Senga had a difficult first inning. After walking the first two batters he faced, with some pitches not even close, the right-hander served up a three-run homer to Sal Stewart that opened up the scoring. Three batters later, Spencer Steer, who was stuck in a 1-for-29 slump, launched a solo shot to give the Reds a 4-0 advantage.
-- Following Monday night’s 12-0 loss, it looked like things might get out of hand for New York once again. However, Senga managed to keep Cincinnati hitless for the next three innings and even showed some swing-and-miss stuff by striking out five in four innings.
-- Senga’s command was off for most of the night and he had trouble getting his secondary stuff over the plate, but the velocity on his fastball sat around 96-97 mph, which is always a good sign for the right-hander who threw 82 pitches (46 strikes) before getting pulled. The start wasn’t great, but it was good enough because of how Senga ended it to likely get him another one his next time through with the Mets desperate for starting pitchers at the moment.
-- Offensively, New York’s only run off Reds starter Brady Singer came in the third inning when Bo Bichette singled with runners on first and second to get the Mets on the board for the first time in the series. Bichette continued his incredible hot streak by finishing 2-for-5 at the plate for his fifth consecutive multi-hit game.
-- After Bichette’s run-scoring single, Juan Soto walked to load the bases, but just like in Monday’s game, where New York left the bases loaded three separate times without scoring a single run, the Mets were unable to cash in after Jared Young’s flyout ended the inning.
New York left the bases loaded again in the fourth inning and went 2-for-11 with RISP for the game.
-- Facing Cincinnati’s bereft bullpen in the sixth inning, the Mets were finally able to strike. With a runner on second and two outs, pinch-hitter Mark Vientos homered against the left-hander Sam Moll to get New York back in the game. The home run was Vientos’ first pinch-hit home run of his career and eighth of the season.
-- The Mets had another golden opportunity to get closer in the eighth after back-to-back walks by Marcus Semien and Brett Baty led off the frame, but strikeouts by Vientos and Francisco Alvarez and a groundout by Carson Benge ended the threat.
-- Soto singled in the ninth inning to get the tying run to the plate, but Eric Wagaman struck out and A.J. Ewing grounded out to end the game.
-- New York’s bullpen was once again awesome, giving up just a run in four innings. Austin Warren, Huascar Brazoban and Luke Weaver, who struck out the side in the eighth, were particularly great.
Game MVP: Sal Stewart
Stewart went 2-for-3 with a walk and four RBI.
Highlights
What's next
The Mets and Reds finish their three-game series with a Wednesday matinee at 12:40 p.m. on SNY.
RHP Nolan McLean (3-4, 4.01 ERA) goes up against LHP Nick Lodolo (2-1, 5.21 ERA).
Continue reading...
