Kodai Senga turned forth a horrible performance that set the tone early in the series. The Mets’ bats went frigid and they made two errors, while the Dodgers needed just one inning to effectively win Game 1.
Kodai Senga was manhandled in Game 1 of the NLCS between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. Senga worked one and half innings and walked Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Teóscar Hernández. Then a single by Max Muncy drove in two runs. The puzzled Japanese pitcher eventually let up a two-run single to Ohtani that scored a third run in the second inning, and that was all she wrote.
The Dodgers would hit the Mets for three runs in the fourth and three runs in the eighth, taking home a comfortable 9-0 win in Game 1. Senga was sent to the mound following a solid run of form against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he only allowed a home run to Kyle Schwarber.
At $14 million a season, the decorated NPB All-Star will need to give the Mets more than a 13-7 record come next season. Senga’s poor play in Game 1 has Mets manager Carlos Mendoza seriously pondering whether he will give Senga Game 5, assuming the series gets that far.
Mets Bats Fail to Produce in Game 1 of the NLCS
“(Senga) just didn’t have it together,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza remarked, dissatisfied after the loss. The Mets’ hitters also didn’t do much to assist their situation, with Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos, Brandon Nimmo, and Pete Alonso going hitless, striking out four times.
To many reporters, Senga failed to produce in the biggest start of his MLB career, and while a bounce-back could happen, Mendoza may not risk it in Game 5.
It is crucial to remember that back in 1988, when the Dodgers met the Mets in the NLCS, David Cone had a horrible Game 2 on the mound for the Mets. He rebounded back in Game 6 with a spectacular shutout performance, but he had a 20-3 regular season record to back him his claim for a second chance—something Senga sadly lacks.
