PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies noticed a ghost and, if issues break simply so, would possibly simply see him once more.
Kodai Senga pitched an enchanting two innings wherein he allowed one loud run however in any other case appeared like himself throughout Saturday’s 6-2 win to start the NLDS towards the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
The query will develop into whether or not Senga will proceed to be stretched out — in video games with an eye-popping magnitude — on the fly.
After throwing 31 principally efficient pitches in a return from a calf pressure in July and triceps soreness that popped up on Sept. 21, Senga has emerged as an attractive chance for the Mets.
They used Senga as a two-frame opener to get the ball to David Peterson, Reed Garrett, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek to complete off a well-pitched victory.
“This puts me in a spot where I might potentially be ready for a game in the future,” Senga mentioned by interpreter Hiro Fujiwara.
Could he pitch once more on this collection — maybe on his customary 5 days relaxation on Friday, when a potential Game 5 would come up?
“If they call on me, I just prepare to pitch that day,” Senga mentioned, deferring to the Mets, who sounded impressed.
Senga bounced again from an ominous starting, serving up a leadoff bomb to Kyle Schwarber on his third pitch of the sport.
The Phillies slugger demolished the middle-of-the-plate fastball midway up the second deck in proper to set off a celebration among the many sold-out crowd.
“It was a regretful pitch. I wish I could take it back,” mentioned Senga, who had no such regrets concerning the different 30 he threw.
He used the ghost forkball to strike out Trea Turner and J.T. Realmuto. A pointy slider was used to get Nick Castellanos swinging.
The Schwarber bomb turned the one hit Senga allowed in an outing wherein he walked one. His velocity was barely down, however he touched 97 mph together with his fastball.
“He was really good,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned. “The fact that we saw 97 [mph] out of him, and then just the secondary pitches. His split was really good, the slider was good.”
The Mets are turning to Luis Severino for Game 2. The greatest guess can be Sean Manaea for Game 3 and, if mandatory, Jose Quintana for Game 4.
Maybe they might pivot to Peterson, who went three scoreless innings in aid, for a theoretical Game 5.
Maybe Tylor Megill can be dusted off.
Or possibly Senga may very well be as much as 45-50 pitches and check out for 3 or 4 innings in what can be simply this third begin of an injury-plagued yr.
“He’s a huge part of us,” Jose Iglesias mentioned. “We’re going to need him.”
