After trading Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander prior to Tuesday’s trade deadline, Kodai Senga made his first start as the clear ace of the Mets’ pitching staff. Senga had his best month of the season in July, pitching to a 1.93 ERA while going at least six innings and allowing just one run in three of his four starts. Despite the recent success, Senga struggled on a rainy night in Kansas City as the Royals defeated the Mets 4-0 to take their second straight game of the series.
Senga had allowed the fewest hits of any qualified starting pitcher in all of baseball entering his start on Wednesday, but the conditions got the best of the Japanese right-hander. He struggled with his command leading to a career-high 11 hits allowed to go along with two walks.
Kodai Senga. Photo by MMO’s Ed Delany
Despite his fastball velocity being down and the career-high hit total, Senga still managed to keep the Mets in the game. He went 5 2/3 innings and held the Royals to three runs.
Offensively, the Mets had their chances but failed to cash in. They connected on nine hits, including three from Jeff McNeil, but went just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position in the loss.
The Mets nearly rallied with two outs in the ninth, but once again, they were unable to find the big hit. DJ Stewart and Rafael Ortega drew walks before Daniel Vogelbach singled to bring McNeil up as the tying run, but the Mets were unable to get a run across as McNeil grounded out to end the game.
The Mets’ lone hit with a runner in scoring position before their ninth-inning rally came with two outs in the sixt from recently-promoted Jonathan Araúz, but even when they converted, it lead to outs. Mark Vientos, who reached on a double earlier in the inning, was thrown out at the plate for the third out with the Mets trailing 3-0.
Phil Bickford made his Mets debut in the eighth inning after being DFA’d by the Dodgers on July 29. He allowed a solo home run to Drew Waters, but retired the three other batters he faced including his first strikeout as a Met.
With the loss, the Mets fell to 50-57 and moved to seven games back of the final Wild Card spot. If there was any hope of the Mets making a last-minute push for a postseason birth, a series loss to the second-worst team in baseball may have put that hope to rest.
Stat of the Game: 10 Runners Left on Base
The Mets had plenty of chances to get themselves back in the game, but were unable to come through with an RBI hit. The Royals, who have MLB’s third-worst team ERA at 5.17, stranded 10 Mets on base in the their fifth consecutive win. The Mets went just 2-12 with RISP, but neither of the two hits were able to drive the runner in.
On Deck
The Mets and Royals will conclude their three-game series on Thursday afternoon at 2:10 p.m. ET. The Mets will send Carlos Carrasco (3-5, 6.40 ERA) to the mound against Brady Singer (6-8, 5.46 ERA) for the Royals.
After throwing eight brilliant innings on July 6 in Arizona, Carrasco has struggled mightily in his past three starts. He has allowed 15 earned runs in just 9 1/3 innings and has only gone 2 1/3 innings in each of his last two starts.
The game will be broadcasted on SNY, and the radio call will be on WCBS 880.
