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Edwin Diaz is about as locked in as it gets for the Mets, and Friday night was no different.
Given a 4-2 lead in the top of the ninth inning, the ninth-year closer struck out the side using a combination of his slider and fastball to clinch the Mets’ series-opening victory over the historically bad Rockies at Citi Field.
The win was sealed on a 99.9 mph four-seam fastball — a swinging strike for Colorado’s Michael Toglia, who lasted four pitches.
“I’m just trying to throw strikes,” Diaz said. “As soon as I get ahead in the count, I try to go for the strikeout. But I think the main thing for me right now is just getting after hitters, throwing strike one. I think that’s the big thing about me.”
Diaz has struck out seven of the last 11 batters he has faced, and he hasn’t allowed a hit since May 5 in the Mets’ 5-4 victory over the Diamondbacks.
The streak amounts to 30 straight at-bats and is the longest active streak in the majors.
Following Friday’s outing, he owns a 2.31 ERA.
“Obviously, at the beginning of last year and coming off a big injury, but we saw it in the playoffs and him going multiple innings and throwing 35 pitches,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “This guy’s elite. What we’re seeing now, attacking, using both pitches, not afraid of challenging hitters, mixing — he’s pretty good.”
Fransisco Lindor added: “He looks fantastic. I’m happy for him.”
Diaz credits the output simply to feeling more like himself than earlier in the season, when he held an ERA of 4.50 across his first 12 appearances.
“I feel better. I feel way better,” he said. “As the season is going, my body is feeling really good. My mechanic is locked in right now. I feel great. I feel I can throw the ball whenever I want. I feel really good.”
