Kodai Senga pitches a scoreless ninth inning to earn his first MLB save as the New York Mets defeat the Atlanta Braves 8-5 on Monday night. After the save, Senga is reported to want the game ball as a keepsake from his first save.
Multiple outlets describe a comical moment involving a Mets rookie teammate, Carson Benge. Sources say Benge has already tossed the souvenir ball into the crowd, meaning Senga does not get it back immediately. The incident is mentioned as a notable postgame detail alongside Senga’s pitching performance.
The reports also align on Senga’s role: he is shifted into a shorter-relief or closer-like capacity during his fourth major league season. While the New York Post and Yahoo Sports emphasize the keepsake ball exchange, the Winnipeg Free Press frames the story similarly around the first career save and the teammate’s mix-up. Across coverage, the central points remain Senga’s first save and the missed chance to retain the ball.
