NEW YORK — Edwin Díaz was in constant motion. But it wasn’t due to nerves.
Top closers like Díaz don’t succumb to nerves. They can’t afford to. Earning a $100 million contract means staying cool under pressure, channeling the intensity of the moment — the deafening crowd, a tight game in the ninth inning — into focused adrenaline, powering them forward.
With the Mets, the hottest team in the National League, holding on to a slim 2-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth on Sunday, Díaz didn’t want to lose his edge. After pitching the eighth inning, he was called on to pitch the ninth as well. Díaz, who had only worked multiple innings four times this season, needed to maintain his intensity, keep his heart rate up.
So he paced back and forth between the dugout and the clubhouse. The sound of his metal cleats echoed in the otherwise quiet room, a steady rhythm amid the chaos of the game outside.
“No sitting,” he later told reporters when asked about his between-innings routine.
Earlier in the eighth inning, Díaz had been brought in early by manager Carlos Mendoza to face the Philadelphia Phillies’ top hitters. Mendoza wanted his ace against their best: Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper.
As Díaz took the mound, the stadium lights dimmed, and his entrance song, “Narco,” blared through the speakers. Fans, surprised by his early appearance, erupted in excitement. Díaz proceeded to retire the side, striking out Schwarber and Harper on just 11 pitches.
Descending the dugout steps, with Citi Field roaring behind him, Mendoza informed Díaz that he would also be pitching the ninth. Coming off a four-out save the day before, Díaz was now tasked with working two innings. A loss would narrow the Mets’ lead in the postseason race to just one game over the Braves, who were set to face the Mets in a crucial series starting Tuesday.
Desperate times called for desperate measures. Mendoza pushed the envelope, and Díaz responded.
In the ninth, Díaz faced some challenges but held strong. Despite giving up two walks and allowing the go-ahead run to reach second base with two outs, he remained composed. Mendoza came out for a visit, offering advice and encouragement, as reliever Ryne Stanek warmed up in the bullpen. Díaz would not have to face Schwarber again, who was on deck, giving the Phillies hope.
But Díaz shut the door.
With two strikes, he unleashed a 98.2 mph fastball past Kody Clemens, striking him out to end the game. It was a pitch that seemed to gain speed as it approached the plate, the kind of pitch that has defined Díaz’s career. This victory marked the Mets’ sixth win in their last seven games.
“We’ve been careful with him all year,” Mendoza said after the game, referring to the team’s cautious approach with Díaz’s usage. “But now it’s time for the big boys to step up.”
The win capped off a successful homestand for the Mets, who currently hold the second NL wild-card spot and sit two games ahead of Atlanta with six games left in the season. Despite missing their star player, Francisco Lindor, due to a back issue, the Mets have continued to excel.
If the Phillies had won on Sunday, they would have celebrated with Champagne in the visitor’s clubhouse. Instead, the Mets delayed their rivals’ celebration. Brandon Nimmo’s go-ahead home run in the sixth inning off Zack Wheeler, a likely NL Cy Young finalist, sealed the victory. Wheeler had a stellar performance, aside from the two runs he allowed, including a Tyrone Taylor RBI single in the second inning. The Mets’ trio of underrated pitchers — Tylor Megill, Phil Maton, and José Butto — matched Wheeler pitch for pitch before handing the ball to Díaz.
While all three pitchers have their own success stories, Díaz stands out as the heart of this Mets team.
After signing a lucrative contract in 2022, Díaz suffered a dramatic ACL injury during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His journey back to form was challenging, with struggles in the first half of this season. A meltdown against the Marlins in May, coupled with a shoulder injury, tested Díaz’s resolve. But like the Mets, he persevered and rediscovered his rhythm in the second half of the season. With a stellar performance on Sunday, Díaz proved he was back at the top of his game.
“I’ve been feeling really good,” he said. “I overcame my shoulder injury earlier in the season, and now I feel like I’m in the rhythm I want to be in.”
The Mets are feeling that rhythm too.