Edwin Díaz Blows Second Save in 2024

Monday night seemed like a walk in the park for the Mets. The game was going their way for the majority of the night, and the club was three outs away from notching a win to improve to 20-20 and gain ground against a National League East rival for a second night in a row.

The offense scored enough to give the Mets a cushion (though there was plenty more cushion that could have been built). Sean Manaea tossed six strong innings. And the bullpen handed the ball to Edwin Díaz with a two-run lead. Three outs were left to get for the usually unconquerable closer.

Even as Díaz trotted out to Narcos, nothing seemed off. There were no apprehensive feelings in the ballpark. Díaz had shut down the heart of the Braves order the night prior and was facing the bottom half of the Phillies lineup. No Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, or Alec Bohm.

But, as baseball fans know, no lead is safe. And the home team doesn’t always win. Bryson Stott started the rally for the Phils, turning on an inside fastball off the plate, which bounced off and over the top of the wall for a homer.

The solo shot was a gut punch. But the Mets were still leading 4-3. There was still hope against the 6-7-8 hitters in the Phillies lineup, and all Díaz had to do was lock-in.

Next up was Kody Clemens, who pinch-hit for Edmundo Sosa. The lefty also tagged Díaz hard, singling up the middle to reach base. Another hard hit against the closer. Brandon Marsh followed with a walk, putting the tying run in scoring position with zero outs in the inning.

It wasn’t looking good for Díaz. The closer was struggling in a second straight relief outing, and to make the situation more dire, Rob Thomson sent Kyle Schwarber to the plate. Again, Díaz needed to lock in, and do it fast.

With the Met killer up at the plate, Díaz went to work. He started with two fastballs. One swung on and missed, and the other outside the zone. The count 1-1. Díaz then switched up the game plan. He threw three straight sliders to Schwarber, who swung over the third to strikeout.

Garrett Stubbs came to the plate next. One out, same situation. Tying run on second base. Díaz got set, and then threw a slider that hung over the plate. Stubbs, however, missed the pitch, and flied out to Jeff McNeil for the second out.

Díaz was now only one out away from victory. One out away from sealing the deal and powering through an outing where he struggled. The batter he had to face was Whit Merrifield, who was in the leadoff spot due to Trea Turner‘s hamstring injury, and came into the game slashing .208/.269/.333 with six walks in 79 plate appearances.

The former All-Star, however, came through. He worked his tenth walk in his 83rd plate appearance, loading the bases for the much more dangerous Bohm. Now forced to go after Bohm, Díaz fell off the wagon again, and hit the third baseman in the hand with a pitch. The game was officially tied at four, and the save was officially blown.

Díaz struck out Harper to escape further damage, but it was enough for the Phillies to snatch a win away from the Mets in 10 innings. The club fell to 19-21 and Díaz blew his second save of the season. He had only blown three in 2022.

“Today was better. I saw a couple 99-98 (miles per hour),” Díaz said on his outing today. “I keep working and I keep going to game, and doing my job. I got to do my job better, I think.”

Despite his velocity being better, Díaz couldn’t hold onto the Mets lead. It’s worth noting that Díaz was working on a second consecutive day, where he holds a 7.20 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in five innings, as Tim Healey pointed out. When fresh, Díaz has a 1.54 ERA and 0.69 WHIP in 11 2/3 innings.

“He’s going through it right now,” Mendoza told the media. “He’s one of the better (closers) in the game, if not the best one. He’ll continue to get big outs for us and he’ll get through it.”

As Mendoza stated, there shouldn’t be any concern about Díaz. All his peripheral stats are elite, his velocity is high nineties, and coming into tonight’s game, Díaz had a 13.2 K/9 rate.

Still, even with the flashy numbers and high-octane stuff, Díaz didn’t get the job. And it’s not something he’s hiding from either.

“I just try to flush it, if I pitch good or pitch bad, today wasn’t a good day for me I let the team down,” Díaz stated. “(Sean) Reid-Foley got the loss, but I count it as me because I came in with a two-run lead and blew it.”

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