Carson Benge’s Final-Out Throw Leaves Kodai Senga Without His First MLB Save Ball
Kodai Senga earned a milestone moment for the New York Mets on Monday night, recording the first save of his Major League Baseball career. The celebration, however, came with an unexpected twist when the baseball from the final out was thrown into the stands.
The Mets defeated the Atlanta Braves 8-5, with Senga taking the mound to finish the game. For the Japanese right-hander, the appearance was significant because it marked his first career save in MLB. Like many pitchers after reaching an important career milestone, Senga wanted to keep the game ball as a personal souvenir.
That plan changed in the final moments of the game.
Carson Benge, playing right field for New York, caught the final out and immediately tossed the ball toward a fan in the right-field stands. Benge appeared unaware that his teammate was hoping to preserve the ball as a keepsake.
Senga and Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez had been signalling toward Benge, apparently trying to get his attention before the ball left his hand. Benge did not seem to notice the gestures in time.
Once he realised what had happened, Benge reacted with a smile and placed both hands on his head, showing that he understood his mistake. The light-hearted moment quickly became one of the more memorable scenes from the Mets’ victory.
The exchange also caught the attention of SNY broadcaster Gary Cohen, who reacted to Benge’s decision during the broadcast with a simple question: “What are you doing?”
For Senga, the lost baseball did not take away from what was an important achievement. The 33-year-old pitcher joined the Mets after building a successful career in Japan and has continued to play a major role for New York since arriving in Major League Baseball.
A first career save is a milestone that a player is likely to remember for years, making the game ball more than just an ordinary baseball. Players often keep milestone baseballs because they provide a physical reminder of an important moment in their careers.
That made Benge’s throw particularly unfortunate from Senga’s perspective. The rookie outfielder apparently treated the final-out ball as he would any other ball heading into the stands, while Senga and Alvarez knew that it had special meaning.
The incident also highlights how quickly baseball players have to react after the final out. From the field, Benge had to focus on completing the play and celebrating the victory. The signals from his teammates came only moments before he released the ball, leaving little time to understand what they wanted.
Despite the mix-up, there was no indication that the moment created any serious tension between the Mets players. Benge’s immediate reaction suggested that he understood why his teammates had been signalling to him, turning what could have been an awkward situation into a humorous clubhouse moment.
The Mets’ 8-5 win over Atlanta ultimately mattered far more than the souvenir. New York secured the victory, while Senga added a significant accomplishment to his MLB career.
Still, the missing baseball gave the game an unusual postscript. Senga may have recorded his first Major League save, but he did not get to take home the traditional keepsake from the achievement.
Benge, meanwhile, will likely remember the moment for a different reason. His decision to give the final-out baseball to a fan turned an otherwise routine end to the game into a memorable story for Mets supporters.
For fans watching the broadcast, it was also a reminder that even in a sport built around carefully planned plays and statistics, unexpected moments can happen in an instant. One throw from the outfield was enough to turn a career milestone into a funny story that extended beyond the final score.
Senga can still celebrate his first MLB save, and the Mets can look back on another win against the Braves. The only thing missing from the celebration was the baseball that was supposed to commemorate it.
Sources
SNY Sports Network
Major League Baseball
New York Mets
Atlanta Braves
