CINCINNATI — Edwin Díaz pitched out of hassle within the ninth inning to earn his first main league save since October 2022, and the New York Mets held off the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 on Friday evening.
It has been an extended street again for Díaz, who missed final season following knee surgical procedure. This was his fourth look of the 12 months, however he was pitching on back-to-back days for the primary time.
“It means rather a lot,” Díaz stated of his first save. “The ball was transferring nice at this time. My first three outings have been no downside. I needed to make my pitches tonight.”
New York averted its first 0-6 begin since 1963 by scoring twice within the backside of the ninth to beat the Detroit Tigers 2-1 within the second sport of Thursday’s doubleheader. The Mets have been hitless via seven innings in that sport.
The offense sputtered once more on Friday.
New York had the bases loaded with one out within the fifth and seventh innings. However the Mets solely mustered two runs, one on Francisco Lindor’s sacrifice fly and one other on an error by shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
Díaz bumped into hassle within the ninth when his fielding error allowed Jonathan India to succeed in, and Spencer Steer walked.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand grounded to shortstop, however Lindor didn’t contact second base in time to drive pinch runner Bubba Thompson. Lindor’s throw to first retired Encarnacion-Strand, and the Mets challenged the secure name at second — which was upheld following a replay overview.
India scored on Jeimer Candelario’s sacrifice fly to make it 3-2. Thompson then superior to 3rd on a wild pitch, however Díaz struck out Jake Fraley for his first regular-season save since Oct. 4, 2022.
After signing a $102 million, five-year contract, the star nearer injured his knee in March 2023 whereas celebrating on the sphere after Puerto Rico beat the Dominican Republic within the World Baseball Traditional.
“It was good, not solely to get the save, however having the ability to work with some hassle,” Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza stated. “Again-to-back for the primary time, sport on the road, actually good effort.”
Jose Quintana supplied a stable begin because the Mets received their second straight one-run sport after opening 0-5, permitting a run and 5 hits in 5⅔ innings. He walked 4.
“It was chilly,” Quintana stated. “Grinding. Shut sport. It was the type of outing the place you should preserve combating each single pitch.”
Data from The Related Press was used on this report.