NEW YORK — The only thing missing from Kodai Senga's new role as Mets closer was a strong entrance song. The one he chose was certainly recognizable and somewhat unexpected. It was not the trumpets of "Narco," but Senga settled on a classic in Michael Jackson's "Beat It" for his Citi Field debut in his new ninth-inning duty. He heard it for the first time in a while, liked it and found success with it. "I didn't have the capacity to look around and see what the reactions of the fans were like, but obviously super famous song," Senga said through an interpreter. "Everybody knows it, so if everybody was on board it and liked it, it's great." The most important thing for Senga was the results on Friday night . The right-hander picked up two quick outs but found himself facing the potential tying run after he gave up a single and hit CJ Abrams. Senga buckled down and struck out Abimelec Ortiz on a forkball in the dirt to nail down his second career save in the Mets' 4-1 victory in front of 30,660 fans on Friday night at Citi Field. "I don't see an ounce of fear in the situation. I see somebody attacking the situation, and that's kind of what you're looking for," Mets interim manager Andy Green said. "You want their stuff to play like their stuff can play and that's happened." Kodai Senga finding footing in closer role
Friday night's outing was Senga's third in the ninth inning since the trade deadline sent four of the Mets' high-leverage relievers to new locales. It was his second save opportunity since Devin Williams landed on the injured list with a right shoulder strain last week. Senga has now thrown four straight scoreless innings out of the bullpen. With Williams still in a "no-throw period for a little bit longer," Senga will be featured prominently late in games. "He'll continue to get those opportunities," Green said. "I do think there will be times where we flip it and pitch him in the eighth inning because he matches up really well at the right point in time, but he's going to continue to get kind of the high-leverage opportunities. He's really controlled his pulse rate. He's throwing plus stuff out there." Senga said he believes it has been easier to prepare and get ready ready and warm up than his previous long-relief role. The right-hander, who was once accustomed to pitching every six days, has now pitched twice in three days. And there is one more step. "Haven't thrown back-to-back yet, so hard to say (if I'm comfortable), but I think I'm well prepared for it," Senga said. Jonathan Pintaro nails down first career win
Since the beginning of June, Jonathan Pintaro has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned five separate times. He was recalled for the sixth time on Aug. 10. That journey alone made Pintaro's first major league decision all the more deserving. The 28-year-old right-hander, whose path to the big leagues included parts of two seasons in the independent Frontier League, picked up his first career win on Friday. Pintaro tossed two scoreless innings, striking out a pair and working around a walk and infield single with a double play in the sixth inning, before the Mets jumped in front. "It's amazing," Pintaro said. "This is everything every baseball player ever dreams of and just being able to go out there and compete and give everything I have for my teammates is amazing." Pintaro leaned on his cutter in and sinker down and away from lefties to keep the potent Nationals lineup at bay. After a rocky major league stint in June where he gave up seven earned runs in 8⅔ innings, Pintaro has now given up one earned run in five innings across his last three appearances in August. And he could earn an extended stay with more performances like Friday's. "Pretty much all we want to do is we want to go out there and compete," Pintaro said. "Just do everything we can to show the world that we deserve this chance and that we have a great opportunity here just to compete and help our teammates do everything they can to get wins." Nate Lavender, Daniel Duarte emerge in high-leverage spots Since debuting in Cleveland, Nate Lavender has now thrown four scoreless innings while striking out five. Lavender ended up in arguably the biggest spot in Friday's win when he came on in relief of Robert Stock with two runners and the Mets trailing 1-0 in the fifth. The right-hander was able to induce fly balls from Daylen Lille and Keibert Ruiz to escape the jam. "What Nate has done in a short time here is enter dicey situation after dicey situation and gotten big outs for us," Green said. Meanwhile, Daniel Duarte has cemented himself as one of the team's late-inning arms with his production of late. The 29-year-old right-hander made his fifth straight scoreless appearance on Friday, picking up a pair of fly balls and striking out Dylan Crews in a perfect eighth inning. He has only given up one hit, walked three and struck out two in those 5⅔ innings. "Duarte has just been sensational," Green said. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Mets' high-leverage reliever unit coming into focus after shakeup