The long ball haunted Kodai Senga and his ghost fork Saturday afternoon at Citi Field. The right-hander surrendered two crucial homers to the Cardinals in the Mets’ 5-3 loss.
Paul Goldschmidt blasted a two-run shot the other way in the top of the second answering back to Brandon Nimmo’s leadoff solo shot in the bottom of the first. Jordan Walker added a solo shot to right field off of a fastball nearly at his head in the top of the third as that would be all the offense the Cardinals needed to even up the series against the Mets.
Senga tossed 6.2 innings allowing four runs while striking out eight. It was a shaky performance — although he did provide length pitching into the seventh — for arguably the team’s best-starting pitcher this season as he entered the afternoon with an ERA of 3.34 before parting with a 3.53. The righty wasn’t able to fully capitalize on escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first.
“It’s so easy to constantly come down here and say he gave us a chance to win,” said manager Buck Showalter. “But, he battled through it. I don’t have much fault with him, I thought he handled himself well.
“Very competitive outing, got us deep in the game which is very important being short down in the bullpen. He continues to pitch very competitively.”
Veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright took the ball for Oliver Marmol’s club and was just a touch better than his counterpart. The 41-year-old tossed 6.1 innings allowing three runs — with most of the damage coming from Luis Guillorme’s two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth — striking out three.
“We just couldn’t push through off Wainwright,” said Showalter. “If you get behind him, it kind of plays into the way he’s pitching now. You’re trying to do too much and we start swinging at some borderline pitches which is what he’s trying to do.
“He manipulates the ball around the zone and spins it a lot and cuts it. But, if you’re aggressive and trying to make up a deficit with one swing, it plays into his hand.”
The Mets utilized the long ball as well blasting two homers of their own with Nimmo and Guillorme, however, the offense without Francisco Lindor — for most of the afternoon due to the birth of his second child as he pinch-hit in the ninth getting hit by a pitch — and Pete Alonso (wrist) struggled to string hits together and capitalize with runners in scoring position going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
Showalter’s club threatened in the bottom of the seventh after Guillorme lined a double down the left field line, however, Jeff McNeil grounded out to short stranding the games tying run on third to end the threat.
Jeff Bringham came on in relief of Senga and a scoreless frame followed. However, Brooks Raley surrendered a pinch-hit RBI single in the ninth to Dylan Carlson which was plenty for the Cards’ stable of arms — Andre Pallante, Giovanny Gallegos and Jordan Hicks — to secure the victory 5-3.
Carlos Carrasco will take the ball for the Amazin’s Sunday in an attempt to secure the series victory. Matthew Liberatore will toe the slab for The Redbirds.
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