Kodai Senga Settles In, Shuts Down Diamondbacks

As a pitcher in the Major Leagues, you’re going to battle with adversity. You’ll have good days, bad days, and days where you have to go out and find ways to be successful. For Kodai Senga, Wednesday was that day that he had to grind it out and stay composed as his start against the Diamondbacks did not start how he expected it to through the first three innings. He walked five of the first 10 batters he faced before he settled in to finish his outing with six scoreless frames to improve to 4-2 on the season.

“The first three innings he was battling with his command, a few arm-side misses,” said Carlos Mendoza on Senga’s first three innings. “I thought the slider was good today, he did not have the forkball.”

Senga also spoke with the media following his outing about his struggles and being able to turn it around. “Those first three innings were rough,” said Senga through his interpreter. “I didn’t have anything.”

After a mound visit in the third, Senga flipped a switch. He found ways to battle and find success with other pitches outside of his Forkball, his “A-pitch” that just wasn’t there for him on Wednesday.

After Jeremy Hefner went out and talked with Senga in the third, he retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced to hold the Diamondbacks to just two hits in the Mets’ 7-1 win over the Diamondbacks.

“Out of experience, when I know certain things are not going certain ways, I have quick fixes and I was able to find that to help me get through the game,” Senga explained on how he turned things around.

Being able to find ways around using his forkball is something that Mendoza praised, saying that it is one of the things that makes a good pitcher, being able to recognize when one of your pitches isn’t there and finding success with other pitches to get you through the day.

Senga lowered his ERA to 1.16 on the season. He has walked 17 and struck out 35 in 38 2/3 innings. He has a WHIP of 1.16 as well.

Senga is a veteran pitcher, and Wednesday showed his ability to remain composed when adversity strikes. He stayed within himself and found a way to win his last three innings and lead the Mets to a victory.

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