CINCINNATI — Kodai Senga struggled in his return to the mound for the New York Mets on Tuesday, as the team fell 5-3 to the Cincinnati Reds. The loss marked the Mets’ second consecutive defeat and put them at risk of being swept in the series.

Senga, called upon to start following Christian Scott’s placement on the injured list due to a right hip impingement, was hit hard in the first inning. He allowed two home runs, giving up four runs on two hits and four walks over four innings. Despite settling down after his rough debut inning, the damage had already been done.

“I just couldn’t gather it all together in that big inning,” Senga said through an interpreter, reflecting on his first outing in several weeks due to a back injury. Despite the uneven start, he remains expected to hold his place in the rotation. “As long as I can prepare the way I should prepare between outings, I should be able to be effective.”

The Mets’ troubles began immediately as Senga walked the first two batters, Blake Dunn and JJ Bleday, before Sal Stewart launched a three-run home run off a 2-1 sinker over the left-field fence. After briefly escaping further damage with a diving catch by A.J. Ewing, Senga surrendered another homer to Spencer Steer, putting the Mets in a 4-0 deficit early.

Manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged the poor start but noted some positives in Senga’s pitching. “He found his sweeper and the slider, but they got him early on,” Mendoza said. Mendoza was later ejected in the seventh inning following a dispute over the strike zone, and the Mets had already lost both challenges they had available earlier in the game.

Offensively, the Mets battled back but fell short. Bo Bichette chipped away at the Reds’ lead with an RBI single in the third inning, scoring Francisco Alvarez and narrowing the deficit to 4-1. Bichette came into the game hitting .476 (10-for-21) in recent at-bats and recorded his 41st RBI of the season. However, the Mets failed to capitalize fully, with Jared Young grounding out to end a bases-loaded rally in the third.

In the fifth inning, Stewart added to the Reds’ lead with an RBI single against Mets reliever Cionel Pérez, pushing the score to 5-1. The Mets responded in the sixth when pinch-hitter Mark Vientos launched a two-run homer, bringing New York within two runs. Vientos’ shot followed a single by Marcus Semien and an error by Reds right fielder Spencer Steer.

New York’s best opportunity to tie the game came in the eighth inning when Semien and Brett Baty drew walks to open the frame. However, Vientos and Alvarez struck out consecutively, and the inning ended on an out by Carson Benge.

Despite a recent series win over the Atlanta Braves, the Mets’ momentum has stalled. Mendoza emphasized the need for consistent pitching and timely hitting moving forward. “Throughout the year, when we get quality starting pitching, those guys are going to give us a chance: the offense and the bullpen,” he said. “But we need to be better. We expect more from them, and they know that.”