NEW YORK — The long ball haunted Kodai Senga and his ghost fork Saturday afternoon at Citi Field. The right-hander surrendered two crucial homers to the Cardinals in the Mets’ 5-3 loss.
Paul Goldschmidt blasted a two-run shot the other way in the top of the second, answering Brandon Nimmo’s leadoff solo shot in the bottom of the first. Jordan Walker added a solo shot to right field off a fastball nearly at his head in the top of the third as that would be all the offense the Cardinals needed to even the series.
Senga tossed 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs while striking out eight. It was a shaky performance — although he did provide length pitching into the seventh — for arguably the team’s best starting pitcher this season as he entered the afternoon with an ERA of 3.34 before parting with a 3.53. The righty wasn’t able to fully capitalize on escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first.
