New York finished off a sweep of the Washington Nationals on Thursday at Citi Field, but an injury to Kodai Senga cast a cloud over the 4-3 victory.
Senga was covering first base in the sixth inning on a bouncer to Pete Alonso, who threw the ball high and caused the pitcher to leap and reach back with his right leg to step on the base. Senga tumbled to the ground, grabbed at his right leg in the area of his hamstring, and left the game after a visit from the trainer. Carlos Mendoza said Senga will be placed on the injured list with a hamstring strain and will undergo an MRI to determine the severity.
Alonso looked upset and was consoled by his teammates. Francisco Lindor put his hand on the first baseman’s shoulder while they waited for reliever Jose Castillo to warm up.
Senga (7-3) was throwing a fantastic game, one-hit ball through 5 2/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts and one walk. He started Thursday second in the majors in ERA at 1.59 and finished in first at 1.47, passing Nathan Eovaldi of Texas, who is at 1.56.
The Mets have won six in a row and have the best record in baseball (45-24).
Jeff McNeil hit a three-run homer in the first inning off Michael Soroka (3-4), his fourth in the last five games and seventh of the season. McNeil is hitting .270/.363/.548. Those numbers were .221/.349/.426 on May 26.
Brandon Nimmo, who hit two homers Wednesday, added a solo homer in the fifth, his 13th.
Juan Soto was 1-for-3 with a double and a walk, extended his on-base streak to 14 games, scored a run and stole his eighth base in eight attempts. The Mets went 2-for-3 stealing bases and are 58-for-67 (86 percent) on the year for the best percentage in baseball.
Tyrone Taylor saved a run with a running, diving catch in right center with a man on base to end the sixth inning. Huascar Brazobán stranded an inherited runner. He has inherited 20 this season and allowed only two to score.
Ryne Stanek gave up a run on three consecutive singles to start the ninth, and manager Carlos Mendoza brought in Edwin Díaz. The closer walked Nathaniel Lowe to load the bases, then gave up an RBI single to Josh Bell that cut the lead to 4-2. After getting Alex Call to pop up for the first out, a wild pitch brought in a run to make it 4-3. Díaz then induced back-to-back groundouts to earn his 14th save and end the game.
Senga missed the first half of 2024 with a right posterior shoulder capsule strain, returned, and suffered a high-grade left calf strain while coming off the mound to field a pop-up in what ended up being his only start of the regular season. He pitched in the playoffs.
Stat of the Game
The Mets have beaten the Nationals (30-37) 10 straight at Citi Field, going back to 2023. They have outscored them 61-18 during the streak.
Player of the Game
Senga has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 12 of his 13 starts. Fingers crossed, he is OK.
On Deck
The Mets begin a three-game series Friday with the Tampa Bay Rays, who starter Clay Holmes (7-3, 2.95 ERA) is familiar with from his four years with the Yankees. Holmes is 1-0 with a 0.93 ERA in 19 1/3 career innings in relief vs. Tampa Bay. Righty Taj Bradley (4-5, 4.58 ERA) goes for the Rays. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET, and it will air on SNY.
