Mets make big Kodai Senga call following brutal meltdown against Reds originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.. Kodai Senga is not going anywhere, confirmed New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza on Tuesday, following his lackluster return against the Cincinnati Reds.. Advertisement. Advertisement. Advertisement. The right-hander returned nearly two months following his recovery from lumbar spine inflammation. In the very first inning, the Japanese pitcher allowed two walks, a three-run homer to Sal Stewart and a solo home run to Spencer Steer as Cincinnati climbed to a 4-0 lead. He pitched three more innings without giving more runs, but the first-inning meltdown of Senga proved to be enough for the Reds, in what turned out to be an eventual 5-3 loss for the Mets.. Despite the underwhelming returns, manager Mendoza fully supports the Mets ace to stay in the rotation.. MORE: Mets get Bo Bichette trade outlook that appears to be $42 million mistake. Advertisement. Advertisement. Advertisement. Kodai Senga’s fastballs sat in the low-90s during his rehab assignment. However, in his first start back in the majors, the right-hander hit 97.9 mph on the radar gun. The only problem was that he didn’t have a good command, which is why there was the first-inning meltdown. Apart from two walks he allowed in the first inning, Senga allowed walks in the third and fourth innings.. After Tuesday’s outing, Senga’s ERA was inflated to 9.00 across six starts. He is 0-5, striking out 28 against 17 walks.. The Mets will hope Senga manages to take control of his fastballs when he laces up the mound in his next start, which could happen next week.. Advertisement. Advertisement. Advertisement. Blue Jays’ Max Scherzer has radical idea to empower starting pitchers. Phillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius. A walk-off home run in an MLB debut, truly a dream come true. A ‘gentlemanly’ baserunning move confused the umpires, and everyone else. Oneil Cruz is Pirates’ big trade deadline question