Kodai Senga allowed one hit in 5 2/3 scoreless innings before exiting with a strained hamstring Thursday afternoon as the New York Mets extended their home-winning streak over the Washington Nationals to 10 games by holding on for a 4-3 victory. The injury is sending Senga to the injured list, and he will undergo an MRI Friday.
Senga (7-3) allowed a clean single to James Wood two batters into the contest and one other baserunner. He was injured covering first base on a grounder by CJ Abrams hit to first baseman Pete Alonso.
With one out in the sixth, Senga raced over to cover first. Alonso fielded the ball but made a high throw as Senga covered the bag.
Senga jumped to catch Alonso’s throw and immediately fell down. He was holding the back of his right leg and, after a brief consultation with manager Carlos Mendoza and a trainer, Senga exited the game.
Senga retired 13 straight before issuing his only walk of the contest to Jose Tena in the fifth. Senga struck out five and lowered his ERA to an MLB-best 1.47.
Before Senga’s injury marred New York’s sixth straight win and 13th in the past 14 home encounters with the Nationals, Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo homered.
McNeil hit a three-run homer into the right row of the lower right field seats in the first inning off Washington’s Michael Soroka (3-4) after walks to Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto.
It was McNeil’s fifth homer in his past 11 games.
Nimmo homered for the third time in the three-game series when his drive hit the right field foul pole with one out in the fifth.
The Mets were not threatened until the ninth when Washington hit three straight singles off Ryne Stanek and cut the lead to 4-1 on a single by Luis Garcia Jr.
Edwin Diaz replaced Stanek and loaded the bases by walking Nathaniel Lowe, gave up an RBI single by Josh Bell and threw a wild pitch that allowed the Nationals to make it a one-run game before Diaz secured his 15th save.
Soroka allowed four runs on three hits in five innings. He struck out five, walked three and fell short of winning a third straight start.
Wood had three singles for the Nationals, who lost their fifth straight and fell to 2-8 in their past 10 games.
–Field Level Media
