Rookie move: Benge loses ball from Senga's first career save

ATLANTA -- After earning his first career save, New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga wanted the ball as a keepsake.

Whoops!

Rookie teammate Carson Benge had already tossed it into the Atlanta crowd.

Recently shifted to a short-relief role in his fourth major league season, Senga closed out New York's 8-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves with a scoreless ninth inning Monday night. Mauricio Dubón flied out to Benge in right field for the final out, and he turned toward the stands looking to send a fan home with a souvenir.

Senga, well aware of his achievement, held out his arms in disbelief with his mouth agape while watching the whole thing transpire. In a funny scene, he raised both hands trying to grab Benge's attention as Senga and Mets catcher Francisco Alvarezcalled for the baseball in vain.

When he realized what happened, a sheepish Benge put both hands on his head -- and Senga doubled over in laughter.

After the game, Senga was asked if Benge ever retrieved the ball for him.

"I think Bengie is trying to tell me I should have just punched him out," a smiling Senga said through an interpreter.

Senga got the save opportunity in the ninth because the Mets placed closer Devin Williams on the 15-day injured list earlier in the day. Interim manager Andy Green was noncommittal before the game about who would be his closer, but with New York leading 8-5, he called on Senga. The right-hander is 0-8 with an 8.12 ERA in eight starts and eight relief appearances this season.

Senga struck out Matt Olson and Michael Harris II to open the ninth, then walked Ozzie Albies before retiring Dubón.

Senga has not allowed a run in his past three appearances out of the bullpen. He came over from Japan and signed a five-year, $75 million contract to be a starter for the Mets before the 2023 season. He went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts that year, making the NL All-Star team and finishing runner-up in Rookie of the Year voting and seventh in Cy Young Award balloting.

But he has largely struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness since, other than a strong stretch early in the 2025 season.

The last-place Mets are 6-1 on a nine-game trip after trading away a significant number of players ahead of last Monday's trade deadline that depleted their bullpen.