Mets' offense shows signs of life, but Cubs rough up Kodai Senga in ninth straight loss

New York had scored three runs in their previous 39 innings before the big top of the second.

• Unfortunately for the Mets, Senga didn't fare much better the rest of the way. The right-hander gave up a monstrous two-run shot after walking the No. 9 hitter in the bottom of the second, then was able to work out of a two out jam in the third, before being pulled with a man on in the fourth.

Senga lasted just 3.1 innings this time out after going just 2.1 in his last outing.

• Things went from bad to worse after Senga left, as some shoddy Mets defense helped the Cubs load the bases against Huascar Brazoban. The big righty appeared to get out of the jam, but Brett Baty booted a routine grounder to first, bringing in Chicago's seventh run of the game.

Senga's ERA is up to 8.83 after allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits and three walks.

• Sean Manaea put together two scoreless innings of work out the bullpen, before running into trouble. The Cubs loaded the bases and tacked on three runs against him in the seventh, then Ian Happ crushed a 411 foot two-run to put the finishing touches on this one in the eighth.

• While it was wasted by the poor pitching performance, the Mets' offense did finally enjoy a decent showing. They recorded the eight hardest-hit balls in the game and finished with a total of 13 hits, with nine different players recording one and five of them finishing with two.

New York still couldn't come up with the big knock needed, though, finishing 4-for-11 with RISP.

• Carson Benge put together a nice day in his first big-league appearance in the leadoff spot. The lefty-hitting rookie smacked a 105.2 mph lineout to left in his first at-bat, then laced a single up the middle in his second, giving him hits in three straight and six of his last seven games.

Benge finished 1-for-4, and also made a diving catch in shallow right field.

• MJ Melendez enjoyed his second straight good game after being called up from Syracuse. He's now 4-for-7 to start his Mets tenure after reaching in each of his first three plate appearances with a walk and two hard-hit singles, before striking out in the eighth.

• Francisco Alvarez reached three times with two hits and walk, bringing his OPS to .959 on the season.

Game MVP: Nico Hoerner

Hoerner was tremendous on both sides of the ball, finishing with three hits and flashing the leather at second.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets turn to Freddy Peralta looking to stop the skid against Jameson Taillon and the Cubs at 2:20 p.m.