Mets Beat Marlins 5-2 Led By Senga and Alonso

Mets RHP Kodai Senga (Photo Credits to Corey Sipkin-NY Post)

 The New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 5-2 this afternoon at Citi Field for their second consecutive win and improved their record to 5-4.

The offense got off to a quick start in the bottom of the first after CF Brandon Nimmo led off with a hit by pitch and three batters later DH Pete Alonso walked.

1B Mark Canha followed by reaching on an infield hit to load the bases and then 2B Jeff McNeil walked to bring in the first run of the game.

The bats did not do much for the next three innings until the bottom of the fifth after SS Francisco Lindor reached on an infield single with two hits and then Alonso followed with a two-run homer for his fifth homer of the season in nine games.

In the bottom of the sixth, McNeil led off with a double and then two batters later, 3B Eduardo Escobar came through with a two-run homer.

RHP Kodai Senga made his second career MLB start and came out firing with two strikeouts in the top of the first.

Senga kept it rolling in the top of the second striking out the side.

He cruised through the next two innings keeping the pitch count down and had another scoreless innings in the top of the fifth.

Senga gave up a lead-off homer to CF Jazz Chisholm Jr in the top of the sixth, but was able to recover and finish the inning and was taken out after the inning.

His final line was six innings, three hits, one run, three walks and six strikeouts to pick up his second ML win.

Senga's "ghost fork" forkball was particularly effective after the Marlins failed to put any of his 16 fork balls in play.

He also featured a blazing fastball in the upper 90's with a slider and cutter.

So far, Senga has looked as good as advertised in his first two starts and has shown a lot of composure and hopefully will be able to build off these performances.

RHP Drew Smith came in next and got into immediate trouble in the top of the seventh after he gave up a lead -off walk to LF Bryan De La Cruz and two batters later a single to SS Jon Berti and was then taken out.

LHP Brooks Radley followed and also struggled walking 1B Garrett Copper and then gave up a RBI single to 2B Luis Arraez and was then taken out.

RHP John Curtiss came on in a huge spot with the bases loaded and two outs and retired DH Jorge Soler on a pop out to second to end the inning.

Curtiss stayed in for the top of the eighth and had a 1-2-3 inning.

RHP David Robertson closed it out with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth and picked up his second save of the season.

The Mets next game is tomorrow afternoon, Sunday, April 9 at home against the Marlins at 1:40 p.m.