Citi Field embraces Kodai Senga in home debut as Mets’ latest love affair begins

Kodai Senga had already struck out four Marlins, causing Citi Field fans to stand with two strikeouts on Nick Fortes in the second inning on Saturday.

When Senga caught Fortes looking at a 98 mph four-seam fastball, he came out roaring.

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Or, as Mets Twitter describes it: Ghosted the side.

Dwight Gooden had his corner. Kodai Senga’s Ghost Fork Senga Animation on Jumbo Scoreboard.

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“I was a little surprised at first, but it’s not very common for a player to be associated with such a symbolic mark,” Senga said through an interpreter after improving his record in a 5-2 win over the Marlins. , and I’m very grateful for that.” 2-0.

Senga has officially become a phenomenon.

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The $75 million godsend from Japan who has served as the ace of the Mets staff when Justin Verlander is on the shelf and Max Scherzer is trying to find Max Scherzer.

New York hugs him for the first time and Senga hugs New York back.

“I feel very warm and welcomed. …Hopefully I can show more ghosts next time,” Senga said.

Now you see his ghost forkball, now you don’t.

Senga’s six Ks — four on his Ghost forkball — got him 14 runs in six three-hit innings over two starts. Any chance the Marlins had of playing a Ghostbuster was squashed by Senga’s 97–98 mph four-seam fastball, cutter and sweeper. Senga threw 16 forkballs and none were put in play.

“As the season goes on, I think hitters are going to get more used to it, they’re going to try not to swing at forkballs, so mixing up the pitches is really important,” Senga said.

Senga shook his head and pounded his glove in disgust after Jazz Chisholm blasted a curveball into the right field seats leading off the sixth inning. “It was just a missed spot,” Senga said.

It was the Marlins’ first hit after the first inning. Imagine if they had not become familiar with him after facing him last Sunday.

“I can strike when I want to strike,” Senga said.

A walk and a wild pitch, followed by a second walk, prompted pitching coach Jeremy Hefner to take a quiet mound trip with Senga’s pitch count of 89. On pitch No. 90, Avicel Garcia moved to third to end the inning and Senga’s day.

Manager Buck Showalter said, “He threw several cutters behind the count for strikes today.” “They have a lot of weapons that hitters have to prepare for.”

But Ghost Fork is the main event.

David Robertson told The Post, “I can’t throw a ball like that.” “He has so much, I guess you call it down angle, when he’s pulling through the baseball when he throws it that it just looks like a fastball. … It’s on the same plane. Comes out, it’s spinning funny, hitters just look at it, want to swing at it, and then at the last second it just…disappears.

Certainly most of the 42,306 fans booed when Senga was flagged for a clock violation and Garrett Cooper batted in the third inning.

It is equally clear that Senga has endeared himself to his teammates with his consistent outward displays of charisma and support. They were seen smiling and cheering in the dugout when Eduardo Escobar hit a two-run HR in the sixth inning.

Pete Alonso said, “His English is getting better every day, and he’s not only embracing the American lifestyle and culture,” but he’s embracing every single person on this team. He’s brought his whole family back home, and for him to perform the way he’s performing, and for him to have the poise and discipline, and for him to execute the way that he is, it’s really special. Is.

Senga has taken the adjustments in stride.

“He’s wanted to be here for a long time,” Adam Ottavino told The Post. “He’s got a great translator, he’s got good people. He’s very confident, which is a great thing. I think he’s got an edge, and I think that’s going to serve him well.

“I’ve played with a lot of Japanese people over the years, and for the most part, they seem very humble and they like to put others before themselves, and just be a little passive. But even the nice guys have a little competitive fire that comes out, and that becomes apparent just by being around her every day.

Kodai Senga appears to have been born for the New York stage.

“Having thrown here, I know that if I keep throwing well, they will keep welcoming me and cheering for me,” Senga told the Post through his interpreter.

Let the love affair begin.