Kodai Sengas scoreless start, Juan Sotos two homers back Mets to series win over Diamondbacks

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.PHOENIX — Kodai Senga sure didn’t appear long for Wednesday’s outing after walking five batters over his first three innings. But not only was the Mets right-hander, with help defensively, successful in preventing those Diamondbacks runners from scoring, he started throwing strikes.

Senga survived and the results were extremely palatable. With Senga throwing six shutout innings, the Mets won 7-1 in the series rubber game at Chase Field to complete a 3-3 road trip. Juan Soto handled much of the offensive heft with two home runs and three RBIs.It was his second multi-homer game of the season, with both occurring against the D’backs. Senga saw his ERA drop to 1.16 on a day he allowed only two hits and struck out four, departing after 89 pitches.

It was Senga’s fourth start this season in which he didn’t surrender an earned run. The performance provided a boost for the Mets, who could appreciate getting six innings from a starter for the second straight game, lessening the bullpen’s responsibility.On Tuesday, David Peterson gave the Mets six innings in which he allowed four earned runs in a loss. Max Kranick allowed one run over 1 ¹/₃ innings before Huascar Brazobán got the final two outs in the eighth.

Ryne Stanek pitched a scoreless ninth. Senga received early defensive help to keep the game scoreless.Alek Thomas hit a double to left-center in the second, on which Eugenio Suárez was thrown out at the plate on a Tyrone Taylor to Francisco Lindor to Luis Torrens relay. After walking two batters to start the third, Senga escaped by getting Pavin Smith to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Senga also benefited from Torrens throwing out Corbin Carroll attempting to steal second base in the first inning. Soto homered in the sixth for the game’s first run. Luisangel Acuña delivered an RBI single in t...