PHOENIX -- Good teams and good players find a way.
Kodai Senga absolutely could not find the strike zone to open Wednesday’s series finale against the D-backs at Chase Field, becoming the first Mets pitcher to walk five of the first 10 hitters in a game since Zack Wheeler did so 12 years ago in his rookie season.
It didn’t matter. When you have talent like Senga and teammates like Juan Soto, you’re never out of it.
Senga flipped the switch after a third-inning mound visit, completing an improbable six scoreless innings, and Soto had his second two-homer game against the D-backs in the past seven days as the Mets headed home with a 7-1 victory and a series win.
The D-backs had their chances to capitalize on Senga early, but the Mets’ defense denied them at every turn.
In the first inning, leadoff hitter Corbin Carroll drew a free pass but was cut down by catcher Luis Torrens trying to steal second base and Senga escaped the inning unscathed.
In the second inning, Eugenio Suárez worked an eight-pitch walk to open the frame and two batters later was heading home on an Alek Thomas double to left-center, but shortstop Francisco Lindor nailed him at the plate with a perfect relay throw.
“Those are winning plays,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I thought that relay play was really good from Tyrone Taylor to get it in, hit the cutoff man, and then that strike from Lindor at home plate, Torrens applying the tag, pretty complete play there.”
When Senga walked the first two batters of the third inning, the law of averages said his luck was about to run out. Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner headed to the mound with interpreter Hiro Fujiwara and the entire infield joined them.
Whatever was said did the trick. The inning was over three pitches later after a failed sac bunt attempt and a double-play grounder, and Senga retired nine of his final 10 hitters from there.
“It was just a reset. We knew there was a chance that they’d bunt there, so we talked through it and hoped to get an out and get the thing rolling,” Hefner said. “Then he gets the double play and it looks like I had a magic pill, but ultimately it was just him kind of resetting.”
Soto made Senga’s resilience pay off with a moonshot to center field off right-hander Merrill Kelly to open the scoring in the sixth inning, then he added a solo shot the opposite way off lefty Jalen Beeks in the eighth.
“For two weeks now, he’s continuously had really good at-bats, day in and day out, and finally it’s good to see him [get results],” Mendoza said. “Going dead center, and then the left on left there, that was impressive.”
The superstar endured a slow start to his Mets career, closing April with a slash line of .241/.368/.384. But Soto opened May with a two-homer game against the D-backs in New York and has seemingly turned the corner, slashing .346/.455/.885 since the calendar turned.
“I feel the same [as when I wasn’t getting results],” Soto said. “I’m seeing the ball well and making good decisions, and now I’ve been squaring up a couple balls and finding a couple gaps.”
On Tuesday, Soto passed Mickey Mantle for the most walks by a player before turning 27, with 798. And he followed that up a day later with his 25th career multihomer game, joining a tie for second most in AL/NL history by a player 26 or younger.
Most multihomer games before turning 27
Jimmie Foxx: 26
Juan Soto: 25
Mel Ott: 25
Eddie Mathews: 25
Alex Rodriguez: 25
Soto said it’s sometimes hard to stay disciplined when he’s not seeing the results, but he knows it’s better to stay within himself and stick to the plan.
“[Taking walks] is part of my game. I feel like, when I’m patient, it brings me a lot of times when I can hit the ball hard,” he said. “There are some tough moments. It’s hard when you want to hit, you want to get the base hit to win the game, but for me, I just try to stay patient, stay in my strength.”
After winning their seventh straight game on April 23, the Mets arrived at Chase Field having lost six of their past 10, fresh off getting swept in a doubleheader in St. Louis on Sunday. But their biggest stars stepped up to turn the tables.
After Lindor delivered a huge game in Monday’s win and Soto cleared the way for Senga’s rebound on Wednesday, the Mets take a series win into Thursday’s off-day and some momentum into a showdown with the Cubs starting Friday at Citi Field.