The Cincinnati Reds dealt the Mets and Kodai Senga a blow in the first inning. The Mets were able to get up to finish the fight, but much like they’ve been all season, they were on the ropes.
Senga allowed four earned runs in the first inning to put the Mets in an early hole they were never able to come back from in a 5-3 loss Tuesday night at Great American Ballpark. It was the second day in a row that the starting pitcher was shelled early in the game.
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And much like Monday night, the Mets couldn’t hit with runners on base, stranding 11 runners and going just 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position. It was the third straight game in which the Mets left at least 10 runners on base. They’re 3 for 23 with runners in scoring position in the series, which concludes Wednesday.
Mark Vientos pinch hit a two-run homer off left-hander Sam Moll in the sixth inning, bringing the Mets to within two runs of tying. Francisco Alvarez walked after Vientos took Moll deep, but Carson Benge struck out to end the inning. Eric Wagaman reached with a two-out single in the seventh, but left-hander Brock Burke got A.J. Ewing to roll over on a slider for an easy ground ball to end the inning.
Facing Tejay Antone, a right-hander, in the top of the eighth, Marcus Semien and Brett Baty walked to put two on with none out. Vientos and Alvarez each struck out, and Benge hit a grounder to the first baseman.
Juan Soto reached second base in the ninth with two outs, but Ewing grounded out again. Right-hander Tony Santillan converted his fourth save.
The Reds (35-37) came into the series having lost eight of their last 10 games and missing their best run producer, Elly De La Cruz. The Mets (32-41) failed to capitalize.
Manager Carlos Mendoza was ejected in the seventh inning, showing obvious frustration. Who wouldn’t be frustrated after watching a team leave more than 30 runners on base over the last few days? The crux of his argument was Benge’s at-bat to end the sixth inning, but a walk to JJ Bleday by right-hander Huascar Brazobán was what set the skipper off. The Mets were out of challenges after using all of their ABS challenges early in the game.
Making his first start since April 26, Senga (0-5) was able to give the Mets four innings after giving up four earned runs early. Cincinnati got to him early, with Blake Dunn and Bleday, the first two hitters for the Reds, both walking. Sal Stewart then hit a three-run homer. With two outs, Spencer Steer hit one.
Senga gave up only two hits, but both were home runs, walking four and striking out five.
The Mets had to empty the bullpen, using left-hander Cionel Perez, right-handers Austin Warren and Brazobán, then setup man Luke Weaver to try to keep the game within reach. Weaver did exactly that to run his scoreless inning streak to 21 innings.
Right-hander Brady Singer (3-6) held the Mets to one earned run on three hits, walking three and striking out five.