It was, as Carlos Mendoza described it, “Big-boy time.” So the Mets manager called on his closer, Edwin Díaz, for a six-out save against a, well, big-boy lineup. And while the eighth and ninth innings Sunday night against the Phillies might have been hell on pulse rates and blue-and-orange serenity, Díaz ultimately delivered.
Díaz blazed a 98.3 mile-per-hour fastball past Kody Clemens for the final out of the Mets’ 2-1 victory over Philadelphia — a key win because it enables Díaz and his teammates to head to Atlanta holding a two-game lead over the Braves in the NL Wild Card race. Díaz has had an up-and-down season in returning from his awful knee injury, but maybe he’s reestablished his dominance now.
He’s certainly reestablished the Mets’ confidence in him and that could have crucial repercussions in October, when multi-inning zeroes from vital bullpen arms can tilt a series. Díaz figures to be one of the most important Mets in October. The Mets should keep using him aggressively in big-boy time.
“I wanted my best guy against their best here and then let it play out,” Mendoza said. The manager added, “We’ve been protecting him the whole year and now it’s big-boy time and he’s our guy. So proud of him.”
It was not easy, however. There was drama and, perhaps, a strategy kernel for potential October opponents to file away. Díaz, coming off a four-out save Saturday that cost 17 pitches, got the six outs, earning his 20th save. He threw 30 pitches Sunday and the Phillies swung 13 times, missing nine times, according to MLB’s Statcast.
But Díaz gave up a hit and two walks. The Phillies ran at will, too, stealing four bases while he was pitching — something that opposing scouts at the game no doubt noted.
Díaz fanned the first batter he faced, the dangerous Kyle Schwarber, with 97-mph heat, the first of his four strikeouts. But Trea Turner blooped a single to center. Turner stole both second and third, but Díaz got Bryce Harper to go around on a check-swing on more 97-mph gas and then retired Alec Bohm on a grounder on his first slider of the night.
In the ninth, Díaz got Nick Castellanos on a fly ball, but then walked Bryson Stott, who also stole two bases, including one when Díaz whiffed JT Realmuto for the second out. After Díaz walked Brandon Marsh, Mendoza went to the mound. Ryne Stanek was getting ready in the bullpen, just in case.
“I just wanted to make sure that (Díaz) was feeling good, because I was pushing…