Kodai Senga Takes Blame for Loss in Season Debut

Kodai Senga survived the first error by Francisco Lindor, but a second by the normally sure-handed shortstop Tuesday led to two unearned runs and the difference in a 4-2 loss to the Miami Marlins.

Afterward, Senga took the blame.

“Since the day I signed with this team, Lindor’s always been there,” Senga said through an interpreter. “He’s always supported me, always gave me words of encouragement. He’s always been there for not just me, but everybody on the team. So when he makes a mistake I need to be there to pick him up. Not only him, but everybody else on the team.

“He’s always there for everybody and it was my fault to make this game, make his errors be highlighted because of my poor performance.”

Senga, in his first regular season start since last July, got off to a rocky start, serving up a two-run homer to Kyle Stowers in the first inning, but he settled down before the 13,740 fans to fire 49 strikes out of 77 pitches. He showed off the whole repertoire, throwing 22 forkballs and four-seam fastballs apiece, 17 cutters, nine sweepers, five sliders and two curves.

The final line: five innings, four runs (two earned), three hits, one walk, eight strikeouts and his first regular season loss since Aug. 25, 2023. Six of his eight punchouts came via the fork.

“It was not bad,” Senga said of the pitch. “Not great, but not bad. First time throwing (to Luis) Torrens in a big-league game so I think there are some adjustments that are going to continue to be made. And I think he did a great job using it and that’s why I was able to perform decently but I think it’s going to be better throughout the rest of the season.”

And while he wished he picked up Lindor, no one felt worse than the shortstop. Otto Lopez reached on Lindor’s error to start the fourth, and with two outs, Graham Pauley hit a two-run double to break a 2-2 tie.

“I felt we played a clean game except two pitches, my two ground balls,” Lindor said. “So I take a lot of pride in (my defense), it doesn’t feel good. I talked to Senga. Senga said that ‘don’t worry about it,’ I picked him up many times. But it still kinda hurts you know. I wish I would have done better for Senga. And Senga had a great game, it’s unfortunate that I didn’t finish the play for him. He executed today all night long, definitely should be better.”

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