NEW YORK — When the New York Mets launched Kodai Senga at a information convention final December, the touted pitcher from Japan mentioned he was trying ahead to dealing with the Philadelphia Phillies.

One by one, he despatched them proper again to the dugout Tuesday night time. Made ‘em disappear like a ghost, you would possibly even say.

Senga allowed one hit by way of seven dominant innings and Francisco Lindor homered to assist the Mets beat the Phillies 2-0 within the first assembly this season between the NL East rivals.

“Obviously, I was very excited and also amped up to face them,” Senga mentioned by way of a translator. “But not only against the Phillies, but against the rest of the league I want to keep it up.”

Eduardo Escobar added an RBI single and Mets middle fielder Brandon Nimmo robbed Nick Castellanos of a possible house run with a leaping catch on the fence, prompting Senga to place his arms on his head and followers to chant Nimmo’s identify.

Senga (5-3) struck out 9 and permitted one baserunner - a smooth single by Kody Clemens that fell in entrance of left fielder Tommy Pham within the third.

PHOTOS: Senga dominates, Lindor homers as Mets clean Phillies 2-0 in collection opener

“We chased,” Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson mentioned. “We haven’t seen him. … When you see a guy the first time, even if it’s a rookie, sometimes it’s tough to deal with.”

With a crowd of 36,236 typically standing and roaring in anticipation, the rookie right-hander acquired six strikeouts along with his diving, disappearing “ghost forkball” and set a profession excessive for innings in his tenth main league begin.

“When it comes out it looks just like a fastball and it’s just, see you later,” Nimmo mentioned. “He was unbelievable.”

New York (28-27) has gained six in a row at house and Senga has a 1.20 ERA in 5 begins at Citi Field, the place followers depend his strikeouts by hanging ghost posters behind the left-center fence.

“Pitching at home, we have a lot of great fans and I don’t want to disappoint them,” Senga mentioned, sporting a black cap with a ghost fork brand.

Adam Ottavino labored a hitless eighth, getting an enormous carry when rookie Francisco Álvarez threw out fellow catcher J.T. Realmuto making an attempt to steal second after a leadoff stroll.

Realmuto was initially dominated protected, however the name was overturned following a replay evaluate that clearly confirmed an acrobatic tag by second baseman Jeff McNeil. It was the primary caught stealing this season with Ottavino on the mound after 10 profitable makes an attempt by opponents.

“One of the big momentum changes in the game,” Mets supervisor Buck Showalter mentioned.

David Robertson gave up a one-out single within the ninth earlier than getting Bryson Stott to floor right into a game-ending double play for his ninth save in 10 probabilities.

“That’s my type of game right there,” Lindor mentioned. “I love it whenever we can play good defense and help the pitcher get out of innings - it’s fun. I like my home run, but I think Nimmo’s play was cooler.”

Philadelphia (25-29) acquired 6 2/3 encouraging innings from left-hander Ranger Suárez (0-2), who entered with a 9.82 ERA in his first three begins this 12 months.

“He was fantastic, he really was,” Thomson mentioned. “I thought he was outstanding.”

Lindor homered off Suárez main off the fourth and Escobar greeted Connor Brogdon by poking an RBI single between two infielders with two outs within the seventh. Castellanos saved two extra runs with a sliding catch in right-center to rob Nimmo.

“He came by and he said, `Now we’re even,’” Nimmo mentioned with fun. “And I said, `OK, that’s fair, I guess.’”

AROUND THE HORN

New York pitched its fourth shutout of the season and improved to 14-0 when its beginning pitcher goes at the least six innings. … Lindor‘s house run was his fourth in eight video games. The Mets have gone deep in 13 consecutive video games, their longest streak since 14 in a row in 2019. … Philadelphia was shut out for the fifth time this 12 months. The defending National League champions went 5-14 in opposition to the Mets final season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: DH Bryce Harper obtained a deliberate relaxation to offer him consecutive days off, together with Monday’s off day. … 3B Alec Bohm was again within the lineup after sitting out Sunday night time in Atlanta with hamstring tightness. … LHP José Alvarado (elbow irritation) is scheduled to throw batting observe on the sector Wednesday. He may start a rehab project after that and return to Philadelphia’s bullpen following one or two minor league outings. … 1B Darick Hall (sprained proper thumb) and C Rafael Marchán (proper hamate fracture) started rehab assignments with Class A Clearwater. Hall was the DH in opposition to Dunedin and went 2 for 4 with a stroll. Marchán was 3 for five with three RBIs. … RHP Nick Nelson (left glute) will throw batting observe Wednesday. Thomson mentioned further testing decided the damage was to Nelson’s glute, not his hamstring.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (4-3, 4.59 ERA) was 0-4 with a 3.99 ERA in 5 begins versus the Mets final 12 months, dropping him to 9-7 with a 3.30 ERA in 25 begins in opposition to them.

Mets: RHP Carlos Carrasco (1-2, 6.75) makes his third begin Wednesday night time since lacking a few month with elbow irritation and a bone spur. Carrasco is 2-1 with a 4.02 ERA in 4 profession begins in opposition to the Phillies, who signed him at age 16 in 2003 and traded him to Cleveland in 2009 earlier than he reached the majors.

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