Mets' Edwin Diaz delivers two clutch innings to close out Royals, put bow on All-Star first half
Juan Soto provided the power with his two-run blast, but without Diaz and the rest of the relievers, the Mets may not have been able to hold down their 3-1 win in Kansas City.
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After starter Frankie Montas allowed back-to-back doubles to lead off the sixth, manager Carlos Mendoza went to his bullpen to get the final 12 outs. The Mets' pen has been taxed enough in the first half of the season, but they've been very efficient and they've gotten the job done more often than not. But after a hard-fought comeback win on Friday, Mendoza was asking for his bullpen to deliver another win.
First came Reed Garrett. The right-hander pitched a clean inning in Friday's win and was coming in with a runner on second and no outs, nursing a one-run lead. Garrett would get the next three hitters out, including Bobby Witt Jr., to end the sixth. Chris Devenski was next up and although he struggled with his command, the defense behind him allowed for the Mets to escape the seventh still up a run.
Then came the eighth inning, and the decision of the game for Mendoza. The second-year skipper called on closer Edwin Diaz to pitch to the Royals lineup in the eighth.
"That wasn't the original plan there. Threw him out there in the eighth because of what was coming up for them," Mendoza explained. "I thought that was the game right there and I was going to figure out the ninth."
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In the eighth, the Royals were sending Jonathan India, Witt Jr, and Vinnie Pasquantino, the top of Kansas City's order. Diaz would get India to line out to Brandon Nimmo, but after Witt Jr. worked a walk, the Mets defense, and a big of good fortune, lifted Diaz and the Mets out of the inning.
Witt Jr. attempted to steal second and looked to have successfully done so. The Mets dugout challenged the call and the MLB Replay Center saw it in New York's favor.
Diaz would get Pasquantino swinging to end the eighth and a 1-2-3 ninth -- aided by a great Tyrone Taylor catch in right-center field -- ended the game, and Diaz's six-out save.
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"Because of the caught stealing and he was pitch efficient," Mendoza said. "We got the All-Star coming up here, he's going to get a break. If there was a time this time of the year where we need him to go multiple, this is the time."
Mendoza said he checked with Diaz in between innings and there was "no hesitation," and he was good to pitch the ninth. It was Diaz's fourth appearance of one-plus innings this season, the first since July 2.
"I didn't make many pitches in the first inning so that was a big plus for me," Diaz said of the decision. "I knew I was going to be fresh for the second one."
The Mets bullpen combined to pitch four scoreless innings without allowing a hit and just walking two batters. It also helped the Mets win their series against the Royals and have a chance to sweep the series on Sunday before the All-Star break.
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It's a break that Diaz will get to enjoy a bit as he'll head to Atlanta with Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and David Peterson to play in the All-Star Game. And Sunday showed why Diaz was selected for the Midsummer Classic.
Since April 22, Diaz has allowed juse one earned run. In that span, he's pitched 28.1 innings and allowed 13 hits, two runs (one earned) and seven walks while striking out 40 batters. He's also notched 13 saves in that time.
"[The first half was] Great. Didn't start really good, but I find a way to pitch better," Diaz said of his season so far. "Keep throwing the ball how I'm throwing it the last two months has been great. Being on the mound to help this team win makes me feel happy. Whenever I have a chance to be on the mound, I just want to win. That's what I'm doing now. I'm really glad about my first half."
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