LOS ANGELES — If Edwin Diaz could get away with the eighth inning with minimal pitch count, the plan Saturday was to send him back into the ninth inning for a five-out save.
But the Mets closer had already thrown 20 pitches in the eighth inning by walking Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman and striking out Teoscar Hernandez and Max Muncy to close out the inning.
Reed Garrett will be number 9.
The right-handed pitcher had a strikeout and recorded his first career save in the Mets’ 6-4 victory over the Dodgers.
Garrett didn’t even make the team out of spring training, but he’s one of the team’s most valuable relievers, if not the best.
Garrett appeared in six games for the Mets, striking out 21 batters in 10/3 innings.
He has yet to allow an earned run.
“I think we’re just attacking the strike zone,” Garrett said. “I follow the guys right away, that’s the most important thing. If you get ahead in the count, it’s a lot easier to pitch.”
His four-seam fastball, which averages 95.5 mph, also helps, but Garrett only threw it once in this outing, instead relying primarily on his splitter and slider for his 13 pitches.
“He did a great job. I’m really happy for him,” Diaz said. “Even though he threw over 30 pitches, he came in and struck out the side.” [Friday]. He came out several days in a row under stressful conditions and did a great job. ”
Brett Batty entered the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning (he remained at third base), his first appearance since leaving Tuesday with a strained left hamstring.
Joey Wendle started as a third baseman a day after committing two errors in Batty’s place and had two hits and a stolen base.
Left-handed relief pitcher Kolten Ingram was assigned to make room on the 40-man roster for Thomas Nido, who was selected from Triple-A Syracuse.
The Mets’ six-game winning streak ties last season’s longest streak. The team started with six consecutive wins since July last year.
