Kodai Senga surrendered a leadoff home run to superstar countryman Shohei Ohtani before steadying the ship and earning his fifth win as the New York Mets saw off the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 on Sunday.

Ohtani tied for the Major League Baseball lead with his 18th home run when he launched Senga’s 1-0 fastball 411 feet to the upper deck beyond right center field in the opening frame at Citi Field.

Senga (5-3) was soon able to work with a lead, however, thanks to Pete Alonso’s two-run homer with two out in the bottom of the inning.

New York Mets starter Kodai Senga throws in a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 25, 2025, at Citi Field in New York. (Kyodo) 

 

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a leadoff home run off New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (front) on May 25, 2025, at Citi Field in New York. (Kyodo) 

The Japanese right-hander left the game after 5-1/3 innings in which he struck out five while scattering five hits and four walks.

“Ohtani is a great player. It wasn’t about changing my mindset (after the home run), I just kept thinking about doing my job,” said Senga, whose Mets won two of three in their series against the World Series champion Dodgers.

In practice before the game, Ohtani made his much-anticipated mound return against hitters for the first time since undergoing his second major elbow surgery in September 2023.

The two-way star threw 22 pitches across five simulated plate appearances, striking out two and allowing only one hittable ball.

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani speaks to reporters at Citi Field in New York after a baseball game against the New York Mets on May 25, 2025. (Kyodo)

“I knew my speed would go up with a batter in the box,” he said. “Since it was my first time, I tried not to throw at 96 or 97 miles per hour, but it was getting up there towards the end. I think I can keep things in check a little more.”

At Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park, Chicago Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki crushed his 14th home run, a tie-breaking three-run blast, in an 11-8 comeback win over the Cincinnati Reds.

Suzuki capped off a 3-for-4 outing when he broke an 8-8 deadlock in the top of the eighth with his big fly to left field off right-hander Luis Mey, taking his RBI total to 49 this season.

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