During the offseason back in Puerto Rico, Edwin Díaz and his brother, Alexis, made a friendly bet for 2024: the one with fewer saves in their head-to-head matchups would treat the entire family to dinner after the season. With six chances in total, three at Great American Ball Park in April and three more at Citi Field in September, the stakes were set.
After sealing the Mets’ 3-2 victory over the Reds on Friday night, Edwin Díaz is now officially leading the bet. His three outs were not only crucial for the win but also marked a significant milestone: this save was Díaz’s first since his surgery in March 2023 to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.
“It was special,” Díaz shared, holding onto the baseball used for the final out. “It means a lot.”
After a long wait, Díaz gets the save and can brag about his brother
With a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, Díaz faced challenges when he couldn’t handle a swinging bunt from leadoff hitter Jonathan India. This fueled the crowd’s energy, escalating further when Díaz walked the next batter.
The turning point arrived when Díaz induced a potential double-play ball from Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Francisco Lindor, fielding the ball as he moved toward second base, decided to make the play himself instead of flipping to Jeff McNeil at the bag. As McNeil scrambled to avoid the runner, umpire Stu Scheurwater ruled Steer safe at second, a call confirmed after video review.
“It was loud out there,” McNeil recounted. “I saw [Lindor] take that first step and I thought, ‘Oh no. Get out of the way.’ He made a great play. It was a close call at second base. [Lindor] has the athleticism to get that out at first, which is huge.”
As Edwin’s brother Alexis warmed up in the bullpen, Edwin remained focused on finishing the job. Despite some added tension, allowing an unearned run and a wild pitch, Díaz struck out Jake Fraley with a 91 mph slider to secure the victory.
With a triumphant fist pump and a thump on his chest, Díaz celebrated his first save since October 4, 2022.
“It was not just about the save, but also handling the pressure,” remarked manager Carlos Mendoza. “It was good for him to slow it down, keep making pitches, and ultimately get the job done.”
Friday’s game was a tough one for the Mets, with Jose Quintana navigating through challenges on the mound and the offense facing struggles. However, positive moments emerged, including McNeil’s first homer and impactful plays from Brett Baty with two hits and strong defensive contributions.