Tuesday night’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates by the New York Mets kept the momentum going, but more than the victory itself, Carlos Mendoza’s postgame remarks made both players and spectators giggle. Mendoza was questioned about the strategic guidance he gave Kodai Senga during a crucial mound visit in the sixth inning. His response? traditional.
“I wish I knew Japanese,” Mendoza declared.
As Mets supporters relished a rare moment of humor during a difficult game, the moment, which SNY TV tweeted to X (previously Twitter), went viral.
Mendoza’s amusing observation aside, Senga’s visit probably helped calm things down just before reliever Reed Garrett came in to finish the inning. Senga’s ERA, now at a stingy 1.22, continues to shine as one of the best in baseball. The Mets vs. Pirates game was a gritty one, with Senga skillfully pitching himself out of multiple jams. The right-hander pitched 5.2 innings, giving up just one run despite walking two and allowing six hits, but more impressively, he struck out seven and held Pittsburgh hitless in 13 chances with runners in scoring position.
In terms of offense, Brett Baty’s opposite-field homer in the seventh inning, which just missed the wall but was the game-winning hit, was the offensive highlight. In the field, Baty also showed off his leather, adding to the evening’s evidence of why the Metropolitans view him as a key member of their future core.
This demonstrated the depth of the team once more. Baty’s clutch bomb, timely pitching, and strong defense helped the New York team find a way even with players like Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso going hitless.
Lighthearted moments like Mendoza’s remind fans that even in high-stakes games, there is room for personality. The Mets are well in the postseason race with a 28-15 record and a commanding 17-4 record in Queens.
