Semien's Homer Lifts Mets Over Rangers, Baty Adds Grand Slam
Marcus Semien homered against his former team, and Brett Baty hit a grand slam to power the Mets to a 7-2 victory over the Rangers.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Marcus Semien’s go-ahead home run in the eighth inning and Brett Baty’s grand slam in the ninth propelled the Mets to a 7-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday.
Semien, who played for the Rangers before signing with the Mets in the offseason, hit a two-run homer to break a 2-2 tie. The blast was met with boos from the home crowd.
"I think there’s a real decision point there and it’s not one that we’re ready to make today," manager Andy Green said regarding Senga's role. "We have an idea of how he fits in the pen now, which is really helpful."
Juan Soto put the Mets ahead in the third inning with his 27th home run of the season, a two-run shot. Baty, pinch-hitting, extended the Mets’ lead in the ninth with his second grand slam of the year.
The Mets’ pitching also contributed to the win. Right-hander Nolan McLean, finishing his rookie season, pitched seven innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out five. He concluded the season with a 3.16 ERA, 179 ⅔ innings pitched, and 194 strikeouts.
The win marks a significant performance against Semien’s former club, as the Mets aim to complete a series sweep on Thursday.
Meanwhile, questions linger about pitcher Kodai Senga’s role for the upcoming season. Senga has transitioned to a closer role late in the season due to injuries, but with Devin Williams returning to the bullpen, his future positioning is uncertain. Senga has expressed a preference for starting, but manager Andy Green indicated that the team will assess Senga’s fit after the offseason, considering rotation depth and other roster changes. Senga has recorded eight saves in nine opportunities since moving to the bullpen in August, with a 3.78 ERA in 18 appearances during that span.