KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Originally, Carlos Mendoza did not plan to deploy his All-Star closer for a two-inning save on Saturday, but circumstances led the Mets manager to adjust.
After the Mets successfully challenged a replay in the eighth inning, prompting Bobby Witt Jr. to be called out on his stolen base attempt at second, Edwin Díaz struck out Vinny Pasquantino to conclude the inning.
Mendoza then decided to ask Díaz about staying in for the ninth.
“With the caught stealing, he was really efficient with his pitches, and we have the All-Star break coming up,” Mendoza commented following the Mets’ 3-1 victory over the Royals. “I thought, ‘If there’s a part of the season to go for multiple innings, now’s the opportunity.’ I checked in with him after the inning and he was all in.”
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.”
