Edwin Diaz, Mets' bullpen hang on in NLCS Game 2 win over Dodgers
Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz reacts after getting the save during Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
LOS ANGELES — Twelve outs remained when Carlos Mendoza turned to his bullpen earlier than desired, with really only three relievers he wanted to use against one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, making for the kind of white-knuckle, late-inning dynamic Monday that has a way of stressing managers the heck out.
Phil Maton recorded the first four outs, allowing a pair of inherited runners to score. Ryne Stanek got the next four, yielding several hard-hit batted balls but no real damage. And Edwin Diaz, combustible closer, contributed the final four, locking up the Mets’ 7-3 win over the Dodgers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.
Los Angeles stranded the would-be tying run at first base in the sixth inning, in the on-deck circle in the seventh, at the plate in the eighth and in the on-deck circle again in the ninth.
“It was stressful,” said Sean Manaea, relegated to observer after lasting five innings-plus in his start. “But it’s also what makes this game great.”
Mendoza said: “They did a hell of a job.”
And Francisco Lindor: “It was fun. They came in today and did an outstanding job.”
The teams headed to New York — for three games at Citi Field beginning Wednesday — tied at one win apiece in the best-of-seven matchup.
With the Dodgers, who have three starting pitchers, opting for a bullpen game, the Mets scored six runs in the opening two innings. Lindor led off the game with a home run and Mark Vientos hit a grand slam to climax a five-run second.
That provided plenty of wiggle room for Manaea, who looked excellent for much of his outing but faltered late — which is why Mendoza yanked him with those dozen outs to go. He wound up allowing three runs (two earned) with seven strikeouts and four walks. For a while, Max Muncy’s solo home run in the fifth was his only blemish.
But then Manaea “hit a wall,” he said. He walked Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez to open the bottom of the sixth. Jose Iglesias flubbed Freddie Freeman’s potential double-play grounder to load the bases with none out.
That was it. Manaea was sailing until he suddenly wasn’t.
“We’re kind of anticipating it down in the pen,” Maton said. “We expect the worst. At least, I’m a little pessimistic with that kind of stuff.”
Consider it a helpful mindset for a reliever. Mendoza called on Maton, who gave up Tommy Edman’s two-run single. The ball nicked off the glove of diving first baseman Pete Alonso — who seemed to be screened by Freeman on his way to second base — and went into rightfield.
Maton walked Muncy to re-load the bases but got Enrique Hernandez to roll a grounder to third for an inning-ending double play. With that pitch, a slider over the heart of the plate, Maton and catcher Francisco Alvarez were looking for a strikeout or “at worst” bad contact, Maton said.
“That’s what we got,” he said.
Stanek entered with one out and one on in the seventh. He pitched until there were two on and two out in the eighth.
“For Stanek, for him to not only get the last two in the seventh but two more in the eighth, to be able to give the ball to Diaz today, it was how I envisioned it going into the game,” Mendoza said.
Diaz faced Enrique Hernandez, the potential tying run, upon entering for Stanek. He flied out.
When the Dodgers put their first two runners on base — Andy Pages singled to center and Shohei Ohtani walked — to begin the ninth, Diaz settled into his here-it-is mode, consistently going to his fastball to dare opposing hitters to try to hit it. He finished the game with 13 consecutive heaters, touching 100 mph, plus one last slider.
“I trusted my fastball and threw it right in the middle for them,” Diaz said. “So as soon as I give up the base hit, the walk, I said I would throw my fastball right in the middle, try to get a double play. I ended up striking out the other three hitters, but I was trying to make pitches and get them out.”
Mendoza had Reed Garrett warming up behind Diaz in the ninth. It was not clear whether Garrett would have entered in a save situation or only if Los Angeles had tied the score.
“[Diaz] was under control. He was able to slow the game down, made pitches to get [Enrique Hernandez] in the eighth,” Mendoza said. “You could tell once he got Mookie, especially using his fastball, he was throwing strikes. It was a good sign. I’ve been saying it, we’re going to need him. In order for us to get where we want to get, we’re going to need Edwin Diaz. And he’s going to continue to step up.”
And so Mendoza’s reliever funambulating sorted out just fine.
“It doesn’t always work out that way,” he said. “I’m just glad they came out big time.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
