Senga strikes out 12 as Mets cool off 1st-place Mariners 2-1

NEW YORK (AP) — Daniel Vogelbach hit a tiebreaking single with two outs in the eighth inning and the New York Mets cooled off the first-place Seattle Mariners with a 2-1 victory Friday night.

New York Mets 2, Seattle Mariners 1: Box Score

Brandon Nimmo homered, Kodai Senga struck out 12 and Ronny Mauricio had two hits in his major league debut for New York — including a double in his first at-bat that was the hardest-hit ball by a Mets player this season.

Seattle, fresh off a 21-6 August that marked the winningest month in franchise history, began the day a percentage point ahead of Houston and a game in front of third-place Texas in the AL West.

Vogelbach’s opposite-field single off Andrés Muñoz (3-6) scored Francisco Lindor, who led off with a single before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch.

Phil Bickford (4-4) pitched a scoreless eighth and Drew Smith earned his third save after an eventful ninth. Smith walked leadoff batter Cal Raleigh before immediately picking off pinch-runner José Caballero. The right-hander then gave up a two-out hit to Dominic Canzone before striking out Ty France.

Mauricio, one of New York’s top prospects, was called up from Triple-A Syracuse before the game and started at second base. He laced a 117.3 mph double to deep right field his first time up and pointed to his cheering family in the stands.

J.P. Crawford homered for the Mariners, and Logan Gilbert struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings.

Senga went seven innings and whiffed every member of Seattle’s lineup at least once except Canzone.

It was the third 12-strikeout game of the season for Senga, who also whiffed a dozen against Tampa Bay on May 17 and Arizona on July 5.

THE KID IS ALL RIGHT

The 22-year-old Mauricio became the first Mets player with at least two hits in his major league debut since pitcher Steven Matz had three against Cincinnati in June 2015.

LET HIM RUN

Lindor’s stolen base in the eighth was his 25th of the season, tying the career high he set with Cleveland in 2018.

SEPTEMBER MOVES

With rosters expanding to 28 on Friday, the Mariners recalled utilityman Sam Haggerty from Triple-A Tacoma and activated pitcher Dominic Leone, whom they claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday.

Seattle Mariners add Haggerty and Leone to MLB club as rosters expand

In addition to promoting Mauricio, the Mets recalled third baseman Brett Baty and pitcher José Butto from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned infielder Danny Mendick to the same affiliate.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: CF Julio Rodríguez (left foot) returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games and went 2 for 4.

Mets: Manager Buck Showalter said RF Starling Marte (right groin) felt better and was in much-improved spirits after spending the week undergoing physical therapy in Philadelphia.

UP NEXT

RHP Luis Castillo (11-7, 3.01 ERA) starts for the Mariners against LHP David Peterson (3-7, 5.23 ERA) in the middle game of the series Saturday night. Castillo allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings in a win over Kansas City on Sunday — the third time this season he’s limited an opponent to one hit in at least six innings. Peterson gave up one run in a season-high seven innings Sunday against the Angels.

Key to Seattle Mariners’ historic month? Something they doubled down on