Kodai Senga encountered his first adversity as a closer on Sunday, allowing a walk-off home run in the ninth inning that resulted in a 2-1 loss for the New York Mets against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. This marked the second consecutive walk-off loss for the Mets in the series.
Tristan Peters hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning, his first career walk-off. The Mets had tied the game 1-1 in the top of the ninth on an RBI single by Jared Young, but faltered with a chance to take the lead. Francisco Alvarez and A.J. Ewing struck out with the bases loaded, ending the Mets' threat.
Andrew Benintendi gave the White Sox a 1-0 lead in the eighth inning with an RBI triple off Daniel Duarte. Duarte, who had been reliable in his setup role, allowed two hits in the inning.
Nolan McLean delivered a dominant performance for the Mets, pitching six shutout innings and allowing only one hit. He struck out six batters, walked four and hit another. McLean's outing continued a streak of at least six innings with one run or less allowed, during which his ERA dropped from 3.51 to 3.21.
McLean managed to escape a bases-loaded jam in the third inning after consecutive walks to Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas. Following a visit from pitching coach Justin Willard, McLean struck out Benintendi on three pitches.
In the fifth inning, Jake Rogers hit a line drive to left field that was caught at the fence by Luis Robert Jr., denying Rogers an extra-base hit. Rogers had hit a walk-off homer in Friday's game.
Dedniel Núñez pitched a scoreless seventh inning, marking his third appearance in his last four games without allowing an earned run. Núñez is working his way back from Tommy John surgery rehabilitation and has shown recent improvement after two difficult outings upon his return to the Mets.
Fireworks lit up the sky beyond the center-field fence after Peters' game-winning hit, a sight that visibly frustrated Senga as he stood with his hands on his hips.