The Mets defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 at Citi Field Sunday night to take two of three in the weekend series.
They got strong starting pitching from Kodai Senga and an early two-run home run from Pete Alonso to spark the win.
Here are the top takeaways...
-Senga gave up a monster home run to the first batter he faced, fellow countryman Shohei Ohtani, but then shut the door on the Dodgers for 5 1/3 innings before a high pitch count forced him out of the game.
Senga had to pitch around four walks, in addition to five hits, but held the Dodgers without another run before being relieved in the sixth at 101 pitches.
Along the way, Senga exacted some revenge on Ohtani, striking him out on three pitches the second time up, getting him swinging at a high fastball for the K. He also got him on a shallow fly ball to CF with a good ghost fork in the fifth.
As usual, he was at his best with runners on base. Throughout the season, and going back to his 2023 season, he has been one of the best in the majors at stranding runners.
Senga’s ERA rose slightly to 1.46.
-Max Kranick gave the Mets two scoreless innings in relief, pitching the seventh and the eighth, buzz-sawing through the fearsome top of the Dodgers’ lineup without allowing a hit.
In all, the Mets got 11 outs from their bullpen, two from Ryne Stanek, six from Kranick, and the final three from Reed Garrett for the save as Edwin Diaz was unavailable after pitching on both Friday and Saturday night.
-Alonso broke the longest home run drought of his career with a two-run shot to left in the first inning off Dodgers’ starter Landon Knack.
Alonso had gone 65 at-bats and 71 plate appearances without a long ball, a span that stretched over 16 games, though he thought a strong wind cost him two home runs during that time, one at Yankee Stadium and one at Fenway Park.
It was his 10th home run of the season.
Juan Soto set the stage for it by hustling to beat out a hard ground ball that Max Muncy bobbled for an error.
-Tyrone Taylor, who is playing a Gold Glove-caliber center field this season, made a spectacular throw in the first inning to nail Mookie Betts at the plate in the first inning and limit the Dodgers to one run -- Ohtani’s leadoff HR.
With Betts at third and Freddie Freeman at second and no outs, Will Smith lofted a fly ball toward right-center. The ball was fairly shallow and Taylor had to run hard to make the catch, with his body angling toward right field. With great body control Taylor turned and threw in one motion, making a perfect throw to Luis Torrens to get Betts sliding at the plate.
-Soto made an impact with his hustle play but otherwise had a rough night at the plate, going 0-for-4 with two weak groundouts and a strikeout swinging.
He did make a good running catch near the right-field fence to rob Michael Conforto of a hit leading off the seventh inning.
Game MVP: Kodai Senga
It's tempting to give it to Alonso but the Dodgers’ lineup is so potent that Senga gets the nod, allowing one run over 5 1/3 innings, giving LA nothing after a leadoff home run by Ohtani.
Senga probably could have gone deeper into the game if not for his pitch count of 101.