Mets’ Edwin Diaz comes up clutch with ‘efficient’ six-out save

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Carlos Mendoza’s initial plan didn’t include utilizing his All-Star closer for a two-inning save on Saturday, but the situation told the Mets manager to adapt. 

After the Mets won a replay challenge in the eighth inning and Bobby Witt Jr. was ruled out on his attempted steal of second base, Edwin Díaz struck out Vinny Pasquantino to end the inning.

Mendoza then decided to ask Díaz about staying in for the ninth. 

“With the caught stealing, he was pitch efficient and we have got the All-Star break coming up here,” Mendoza said after the Mets beat the Royals 3-1. “I was like, ‘If there is a time of the year where we can go multiple, today is the time.’ I checked with him after the inning and there was no hesitation.” 

Díaz worked a perfect ninth to record his 19th save in 20 chances. Mendoza had summoned him for the eighth to face the top of the Royals batting order. 

“I thought that was the game right there and I was going to figure it out for the ninth,” Mendoza said. 

Already, the manager had used Reed Garrett and Chris Devenski. Garrett walked a tightrope in escaping the sixth inning with the tying run on third base with nobody out before Devenski worked a scoreless seventh. 

Díaz, with his two scoreless innings, saw his ERA drop to 1.66. For the past 2 ½ months, he’s pitched at an elite level, following a shaky start to his season. 

“I didn’t start really well, but I found a way to pitch better and keep throwing the ball,” Díaz said. “I am really happy about my first half.” 

Díaz, about to represent the Mets for a second time in the All-Star game — he also was a selection in 2022 — said his command has improved with tweaks to his mechanics. 

“I have been working hard with the pitching coaches and if I do my routine always I will be good,” Díaz said. “That is what I am doing every single day with them. They keep pushing me always to keep getting better and I think I have to give the credit to them.”