Kodai Senga was sharp in his first start in the minors.
The Mets right-hander hurled six innings of one run ball at Triple-A Syracuse on Friday night — an encouraging step as he attempts to return to form.
Senga struck out eight, allowed three hits and did not issue a walk against Worcester, the Boston Red Sox’s Triple-A affiliate.
He threw 52 of his 74 pitches for strikes.
Worcester’s lineup included Kristian Campbell and Jhostynxon Garcia, two of Boston’s top prospects who have both spent time in the majors this season.
The strong outing came a week after the Mets optioned Senga to Triple-A Syracuse, hoping he could work through his extended struggles without the pressures of a playoff race or facing big-league batters.
Senga threw two bullpen sessions ahead of Friday’s start, but the Mets wanted to see how he fared against hitters.
“We’ll get feedback from him, we’ll watch videos and things like that, and we’ll get the report,” manager Carlos Mendoza said on Thursday. “But he feels good, he feels like he’s in a good spot and made some adjustments with his mechanics. He’s got to go out there now, and we’ve got to see it.”
After injuries limited Senga to only one regular-season appearance in 2024, Senga dominated early on this year, going 7-3 with a 1.47 ERA over his first 13 starts.
But Senga suffered a hamstring strain in June, costing him a month, and he wasn’t the same after returning.
He went 0-3 with a 5.90 ERA and 24 walks in 39.2 innings over his next nine starts, prompting the demotion. Senga had to agree to the reassignment due to language in his five-year, $75 million contract.
“As we talked to Kodai throughout this, I think it became clear that from both of our perspectives that this was the right thing to do for the team and the player,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said last week.
Overall, Senga is 7-6 with a 3.02 ERA in the majors this season. The 2023 All-Star is not eligible to return to the Mets until Sept. 20.
His absence is part of why the Mets are rolling with three rookie starters — Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean — as they try to hold onto the third and final National League wild card position.
HONORING ALFONZO
The Mets are inducting former infielder Edgardo Alfonzo into their Latin American Hall of Fame, they announced Friday.
The Venezuelan-born Alfonzo batted .292 with 120 home runs in eight seasons with the Mets from 1995-2002.
“When you play baseball, you’re never thinking about going to the Hall of Fame — nowhere in the Hall of Fame,” Alfonzo said Friday at Citi Field, a day before he’s set to compete in the Mets’ first-ever Alumni Classic game.
“You just want to play and have a good time. But at the end of the day, when you see the results, it’s good. It’s something to feel so happy for.”
DAVEY TRIBUTE
Citi Field held a moment of silence on Friday for former Mets manager Davey Johnson, who died last week at age 82.
Johnson was the manager of the 1986 team that won the franchise’s second World Series. The Mets went 595-417 (.588) in seven seasons with Johnson as manager from 1984-90.
Friday’s game was the Mets’ first at home since Johnson’s death.
