MIAMI – Kodai Senga barely survived the first inning of his major league debut Sunday and then mysteriously – with the help of a ghost or several – became untouchable.
The Marlins were left reeling against the ghost of the Japanese right-hander, scoring seven runs on that pitch alone.
The Mets used that strong performance from Senga to start the season with a 5-1 victory at loanDepot Park.
Senga lasted 5 1/3 innings and allowed one earned run on three hits with eight strikeouts and three walks before the Mets bullpen went into lockdown mode, continuing that unit’s dominant streak.
It wasn’t easy for Senga, who threw 36 pitches in the first inning while struggling with control.
Jorge Soler hammered an RBI double after Luis Arraez opened the game with a single, and Senga drove in Jazz Chisholm Jr. and later included them in the return of Avisail Garcia.
Kodai Senga pitches against the Marlins in the first inning at loanDepot Park. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
But Yuli Gurriel threw his bat for three strikes for Senga’s first major league outing and suddenly the tide turned.
Jesus Sanchez struck out and Jon Berti flew out, leaving Sen on a course to record the victory.
Over the next 4 1/3 innings he allowed just one hit and one walk with six strikeouts.
He threw his ghost forkball 26 times and got 14 swings on the pitch, nine of which were swings and misses.
Tomas Nido and Stephen Nogos celebrate after defeating the Marlins.Getty Images
His four-seam fastball reached 99 mph (first pitch of the game) and averaged 96.8 mph.
Senga’s eight strikeouts tied for the third-most by a Mets pitcher in his major league debut.
Matt Harvey holds the record with 11 and Collin McHugh is second with nine.
Jeff McNeil is safe at first base after Miami Marlins first baseman Yuli Gurriel dropped the ball during the first inning.AP
Tommy Pham provided most of the offensive juice for the Mets with a three-hit, three-RBI performance, including his first homer with his new team.
In the bullpen, Dennis Santana, John Curtiss and Stephen Nogos combined to pitch 3 2/3 innings.
The Mets took advantage of Miami’s sloppy play to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
When Gurriel dropped the throw to first base on what should have been an inning-ending double play, Pete Alonso and Mark Canha walked in succession against Trevor Rogers.
Tommy Pham hits a home run against the Marlins in the fifth inning.Getty Images
Jeff McNeil followed with a squib that Rogers fielded, and the flip to first base came with McNeil.
The ball hit McNeil up the middle and away, allowing two runners to score.
Pham’s two-out double in the fourth extended the Mets’ lead to 4-1.
No. 9 hitter Tim Locastro was knocked out by a pitch before Pham cleared the fence in left-center for his second hit of the evening.