MIAMI — Kodai Senga’s growth in the closer’s role has been noticeable to Mets interim manager Andy Green.
The latest example occurred Tuesday, when Senga concluded the ninth inning by throwing 10 straight forkballs against the Marlins for two strikeouts, giving him his seventh save in as many chances this season.
“I thought it was a great example of recognizing what is really working and what another team is sitting on,” Green said before Wednesday’s 15-14 slugfest at loanDepot park. “They obviously took some good swings on his fastball, which wasn’t a bad thing to start that inning when you have a three-run lead and understand you can pitch to contact a little bit early on.”
Senga allowed one run on two hits before implementing his adjustment.
“Once he recognized there was some danger there, flipping the forkball and winning with that for 10 straight pitches, that is just good game awareness, and I think that is a great thing to see.”
Senga, who struggled this season as a starter before moving to the bullpen, began Wednesday with a 2.03 ERA in his 14 relief appearances since Aug. 1.
He became the closer after Devin Williams was placed on the injured list Aug. 10 with a right shoulder strain.
The right-hander has indicated his preference is to remain a starter.
“He’s mentioned very directly that he wants to start, and we appreciate that directness and love the fact he advocates for what he is passionate about,” Green said. “We love even more the sacrifice he shows for the team to slide into a role we could really use him in and to really excel at it. It’s fun to watch a guy be really successful, and he’s clearly enjoyed the success.”
Jared Young’s discomfort running the bases a night earlier led to Green giving Young the start at DH instead of first base Wednesday.
Young went 2-for-5 with three runs scored.
The Mets have a day off Thursday, and Green’s hope is Young — who fouled a ball off his foot last weekend — will benefit from two straight days off his feet.
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Brett Baty started at first base but left the game with left knee pain after running to first base on an RBI single in the second inning.
The Mets began the day as one of only two MLB teams (the Yankees were the other) with 10 players in double digits in homers this season.
Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Bo Bichette, Francisco Alvarez, Carson Benge, Luis Robert Jr., Marcus Semien, Tyrone Taylor, Mark Vientos and Baty all had at least 10 homers.
