Kodai Senga Implodes as Mets Blanked by Dodgers
The New York Mets didn’t get off the mat Sunday night in Los Angeles. Kodai Senga imploded, and the Met offense was held in check in a disappointing 9-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers out at Dodgers Stadium in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.
The Mets and manager Carlos Mendoza rolled the dice on starting Senga for the second time this postseason, and only the second time since coming off the I.L. where he spent the entire second half of the year recovering from a hamstring tear. The decision to pitch him proved fatal in Game 1.
Senga didn’t have it.
After getting fellow countryman, Shohei Ohtani to ground out for the first out, Senga lost control of the strike zone. He walked the next three batters to face him and got lucky as Will Smith’s fly ball to center wasn’t deep enough for Mookie Betts to score on a sac fly.
Still, the Dodgers made Senga pay moments later when veteran Max Muncy lined a two-run single to right-center, scoring Betts and Freddie Freeman to give the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead.
They would never look back.
When Senga was finally removed in the bottom of the second inning, he left charged with three runs and four walks in an inning and a third. The gamble didn’t pay off the way it did in Game of the NLDS against Philadelphia.
After Reed Garret worked his way through trouble over the next inning and a third, David Peterson got lit up in the fourth inning, as the Dodgers broke the game wide open in a three-run rally to make it 6-0.
The game at this point was virtually over.
The Mets’ bats were silent all night, as Dodgers righty Jake Flaherty was brilliant. He held the Mets to just two hits over seven innings of shutout baseball. In fact he carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning. Flaherty was so on-point for the Dodgers, that it became evident that it wouldn’t have mattered who started on the hill for the Mets, they couldn’t touch Flaherty.
The Mets face a must-win Game 2 on Monday afternoon. Sean Manaea who many fans wanted to see start Game 1, will get the ball for the Amazins. The Dodgers are likely going with a bullpen game themselves.
If the Mets can get Game 2 and leave LA at 1-1, Mets fans will feel a lot better about their chances to come back in this series.
NOTE: While losing Game 1 is never fatal, it certainly helps to win it. More times than not the winner of Game 1 of a playoff series sees their chances of winning a series only increase. However, when the Mets are involved in an NLCS, that’s a different proposition. Of their previous eight appearances in the League Championship Series, the winner of Game 1 has only won half of those series. So, I guess that means there’s always a chance.
Must-Read Books Behind 7 of Your Favorite Movies & TV Shows
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Dive into the epic fantasy world of Middle Earth with J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary trilogy. The books offer an even deeper exploration of the characters, history, and intricate details of this beloved universe.
Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Before HBO brought Westeros to life, there was George R.R. Martin’s gripping series A Song of Ice and Fire. The first book, A Game of Thrones, is just the beginning of a tale filled with political intrigue, complex characters, and unexpected twists. Perfect for fans who want to forget about the last season and are dying to wait for Martin’s last two volumes.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel takes readers on a journey through a society where women are stripped of their rights (WTF, right?). The book’s chilling portrayal of power and control is a powerful read, even if you’ve watched the series.
The Shining by Stephen King
Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of The Shining is a horror classic, but the book by Stephen King delves even deeper into the twisted mind of Jack Torrance and the terrifying secrets of the Overlook Hotel.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
If you were captivated by the twists and turns of the Gone Girl movie (kudos to the casting director making Rosamund Pike as the lead), the book will take you on an even more thrilling ride. Gillian Flynn’s writing adds layers of depth to the characters and plot, making it a gripping page-turner you won’t be able to put down.
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
This is one of the movies based on a book I’ve read that I feel robbed of, although Teresa Palmer’s portrayal of Number Six is total badass. The book series follows John Smith, an alien teenager on the run from intergalactic enemies. The movie captured the action, but the book delves deeper into John’s struggle to blend in while discovering his extraordinary powers.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
If you were swept away by the romance between Bella Swan and Edward Cullen in the movies, you’ll find even more to love in the original Twilight series. While it’s rare for a movie to be better than the book, there’s one exception in Breaking Dawn Part 2—the faceoff between the Volturi and Team Cullen features a scene that shocked fans.
Please note that items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time we published this list. Have an idea for a fun theme for a gift idea list you’d like us to create? Drop us a line at [email protected].
