Mets eke out win over Phillies to end skid despite another Edwin Diaz blown save
Mets' Francisco Lindor, left, and Starling Marte celebrate after the Mets won a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Matt Slocum
PHILADELPHIA — For the first time in a long time, the Mets might have an Edwin Diaz problem.
They eked out a 6-5, 11-inning win over the Phillies Thursday night, the extras needed only after Diaz blew a third save in his past four chances — an unusual show of ineffectiveness that triggers memories of his erratic bouts in 2019-21, years during which the Mets periodically were forced to reconsider his status as closer.
J.D. Martinez’s go-ahead single and Jake Diekman’s narrow save allowed the Mets (20-23) to salvage a win in the four-game home-and-home series against the NL East-leading Phillies (31-14). Diekman struck out Kyle Schwarber to strand the would-be winning run at second base.
Diaz’s sudden struggles, however, loom as much more important to the Mets’ season than a standalone victory.
“Every win is big,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “What a great team win.”
Diaz’s ERA is up to 3.57 — still fine, but not nearly his 2022, pre-injury self, especially given how and when the recent runs have scored.
Brandon Marsh opened the bottom of the ninth with a 10-pitch walk, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bryson Stott brought Marsh in with a single grounded through the right side of the infield.
Mendoza cited a work-in-progress mechanical issue and diminished confidence in his fastball as issues for Diaz, who agreed. Both found reasons for optimism, including that he blew only the lead, not the game.
“He did a better job slowing the game down,” Mendoza said. “He kept making pitches and got out of it.”
Diaz said: “After the tie game I tried to give [the team] a chance to win. We won today, so I’ll take it.”
The Mets scored two runs, including their last, on wild pitches. Harrison Bader entered as a pinch runner in the sixth and wound up with two significant hits, an RBI single in the eighth and double in the 11th. Francisco Lindor went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts to drop his average to .194.
Jose Quintana was much sharper than in recent outings and didn’t walk anybody for the first time this season. He finished 5 1⁄3 innings, allowing two runs and four hits.
Diaz wasn’t nearly as sharp.
“I just gotta keep competing. I know I’m the best here,” Diaz said. “I’m pretty close to getting back to my form. As soon as I get it, we [expletive] step up and go.”
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.
