With the score tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, a heartwarming turn of events unfolded.
Edwin Diaz took the mound and struck out three batters on 14 pitches before leaving the field, his focus still on the mound.
Reds right-hander Alexis Diaz took over for Edwin and was a bit outplayed, giving up a hit to Francisco Alvarez, but he got through unscathed and the game went into extra innings.
Edwin said it was the first time the brothers from Naguabo, Puerto Rico, had played in the same game, even though Edwin is two years older and therefore didn't have much overlap with his brother growing up.
His parents, grandmother, sister and many other family members were in attendance at Citi Field to witness Diaz's history — and to see how the pair's impressive pitching didn't stop the team from winning.
It was a touching moment.
But the bigger development for the Mets is that their closer is once again unstoppable.
Edwin Diaz had an up-and-down first season back since tearing his patellar tendon, but he remains the same in 2022 and is pitching like the best closer in baseball.
He was a big hit for much of the season, primarily destroying the core of the Reds' lineup with his fastball, which reached triple digits in speed in two straight games.
Since that disastrous save at Arizona on Aug. 29, Diaz has faced 16 batters and struck out 12.
He pitched five scoreless innings over nine days, giving up one walk and zero hits.
There are a lot of positive signs for the Mets' relief corps — Reid Garrett and Jose Butto pitched well again tonight, giving the Mets a chance to out-hit the Reds, 6-4, in the 10th inning — but the best sign of all is that 2024 Edwin Diaz looks a lot like 2022 Edwin Diaz.
“That's what really good closers do,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after Diaz shook off a grand slam to Corbin Carroll to begin his most dominant performance of the year the following night. “The memory loss, and their ability to turn the page. And Diaz is in the company of the best, if not the best.”
Diaz doesn't have the best velocity (that honor goes to the Athletics' Mason Miller), but when he's in good form, he has some of the best velocity.
There were concerns earlier this season when his fastball was clocking in the mid- to upper 90s.
On Wednesday, he hit a 100.8 mph four-seam fastball, his best this year, and on Friday, despite his recent hard pitches, he hit a 100.2 mph fastball.
For example, what is the difference between Diaz throwing at 97 mph and 100 mph?
“Pretty,” Mendoza said of Diaz, who struck out Ellie de la Cruz, Tyler Stephenson and Spencer Stier. “When you're at 100 instead of 97, it's a pretty tough at-bat. It's a pretty tough pitch to hit.”
Diaz said he knows he has a little more strength in his arm for when he needs it.
September is the time to let it all out.
“He knows where we are on the calendar and what each inning means,” Mendoza said. “He has that extra gear.”
It would be nice for the Mets to see him show a bit more power, as when he's at his best he can strike out any hitter.
For Diaz, it's nice to be able to look back and hold the lineup card from that day's fights in his hands, and he said he'll be keeping it because he wants to cherish the memory.
“It's really special,” Diaz said. “We come from small hometowns. This is the first time we're on the same field, playing in the same game together. I'm a pitcher, he's a pitcher. It's really fun.”
