Afrigather LOS ANGELES — Kodai Senga’s second rehab begin of types was a catastrophe Sunday, leaving the Mets within the unfamiliar place this postseason of needing to rally from behind in a sequence.
The Mets had hoped to get three innings from Senga, however have been fortunate to get three outs. The Japanese right-hander was allergic to the strike zone and buried the Mets early of their 9-0 loss to the Dodgers in Recreation 1 of the NLCS earlier than 53,503 at Chavez Ravine.
This wasn’t all on Senga on an evening the Mets’ bullpen faltered and the lineup managed solely three hits in opposition to Jack Flaherty and Dodgers relievers, however the tone was set within the first inning. Senga walked the bases loaded in that body and allowed two runs. One other run scored after Senga walked the leadoff hitter within the second.
Senga’s velocity was down — he averaged solely 93.5 mph with the seven four-seam fastballs he threw — and the Dodgers prevented chasing his signature “ghost fork.” It left Senga to throw largely ineffective cutters that darted exterior the strike zone.
This was the gamble in beginning Senga in October with no correct buildup following the calf pressure that left him on the injured checklist after two months because the common season closed. Senga returned and pitched two innings in Recreation 1 of the NLDS — surrendering a house run to the primary batter he confronted, Kyle Schwarber. However the Mets survived that small misstep and rallied for the victory. On this night time, it went from ugly to uglier for the Mets, who have been non-competitive in a recreation for the primary time this postseason.
The turnaround will probably be quick, with Recreation 2 scheduled for Monday afternoon. Sean Manaea, the Mets’ finest beginning pitcher for a lot of this season, will get the decision in opposition to what figures to be a bullpen recreation for the Dodgers (who’ve thrown 33 straight scoreless innings — matching the postseason document established by the 1966 Orioles, albeit within the World Collection).
In beating the Brewers and Phillies within the first two rounds this postseason, the Mets received each opening video games after which fell to 1-1. This will probably be their first time down a recreation.
Senga, who threw 30 pitches (solely 10 have been strikes), recorded simply 4 outs. He was eliminated within the second after permitting an RBI single to Shohei Ohtani that positioned the Mets in a 3-0 gap.
Ohtani was retired main off the sport for the Dodgers, however Senga walked Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez successively and retired Will Smith for the second out. However Max Muncy delivered a two-run single earlier than Senga might retire Kiké Hernandez for the ultimate out.
Senga walked Gavin Lux main off the second and Tommy Edman’s sacrifice bunt moved the runner. Ohtani adopted with a single by the first-base gap that scored Lux and ended Senga’s outing. Reed Garrett entered to retire Betts earlier than Ohtani was thrown out by Francisco Alvarez making an attempt to steal second base.
Francisco Lindor walked main off the fourth in opposition to Flaherty to offer the Mets their first base runner. Pete Alonso drew a two-out stroll, however Flaherty retired Starling Marte to finish the risk.
David Peterson obtained knocked round within the fourth, permitting three earned runs to widen the deficit to 6-0. Edman and Freeman every delivered an RBI single, sandwiched round Ohtani’s explosive single off the fence in right-center that introduced in a run after Marte misplayed the carom. Hernandez’s leadoff single began the rally.
Jesse Winker singled main off the fifth to offer the Mets their first hit, however he was thrown out at third base after hesitating between second and third on Jose Iglesias’ single. Flaherty retired the subsequent three batters.
Flaherty gave the Dodgers seven shutout innings through which he allowed two hits with two walks and 6 strikeouts.
Jose Butto loaded the bases within the eighth earlier than Betts delivered a three-run double. One of many runs was unearned following Alonso’s throwing error.
