The Mets (73-64) fell to the Marlins (65-72) on Sunday afternoon by a score of 5-1, with Miami taking three of the series' four games in New York.
Here are the key takeaways…
— Kodai Senga has struggled since coming off of the IL in July, and Sunday was much of the same. Senga had a tough time throwing first-pitch strikes, and consistently falling behind hitters ultimately hurt him. Senga allowed a run in the first on some Marlins small ball, and then hung a breaking ball toAgustín Ramírez in the third, as the Marlins catcher lined a bullet two-run homer over the wall in left to put Miami up 3-0.
Miami would tack on additional runs in the fourth and fifth, and Senga's afternoon came to an end after 4.2 innings, as the right-hander allowed five earned runs on seven hits, striking out six and walking two. Senga threw 75 pitches, with just 43 going for strikes.
— Former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara has had an up-and-down season for the Marlins, but he was back in All-Star form on Sunday, keeping the Mets off the board for his first six innings. Alcantara ended up going seven innings, allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out six and walking one.
— There was a bit of a fracas in the bottom of the seventh, when Alcantara came inside and hit Mark Vientos with a pitch. Vientos and Alcantara shared some words, and the dugouts and bullpens emptied, but that's as far as things escalated. Both teams were warned after cooler heads prevailed.
— It wasn't a day to remember for Mets hitters, but Jeff McNeil had a good one at the dish, recording two knocks against Alcantara. One of those was a seventh-inning single where McNeil later scored the Mets' first run of the game on a Cedric Mullins force-out.
All five Mets hits came from the first five in the order (Francisco Lindor,Juan Soto,Brandon Nimmo, and McNeil).
— Tip of the hat to Brandon Waddell. Called up just before the game, the lefty saved the Mets' bullpen, following Senga by pitching 4.1 scoreless innings of relief. Waddell allowed just three hits, striking out four and walking two.
Game MVP
Alcantara, who stifled the Mets.
Highlights
Kodai Senga strikes out the side in the 2nd! pic.twitter.com/zn2eE9ek75
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 31, 2025
The benches and bullpens cleared after Sandy Alcántara hit Mark Vientos pic.twitter.com/A9JXpeFII3
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 31, 2025
Upcoming schedule
The Mets hit the road for a 10-game road trip, starting with three games in Detroit.
Sean Manaea will face veteran Charlie Morton with Monday's first pitch set for 1:10 p.m. on SNY.
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