Edwin Díaz could appreciate the moment.
The planet’s best hitter stood at the plate with two outs in Saturday’s ninth inning, a fitting obstacle for the Mets closer to hurdle if he wanted the save.
“Facing the best hitter at the end of the game is really fun,” Díaz said after striking out Aaron Judge to preserve a 3-2 victory in The Bronx.
With a full count, Díaz threw a 98.6 mph fastball through which Judge swung and missed to end it.
Two pitches earlier, Díaz had fired a 100-mph missile (his fastest pitch of the day) that Judge fouled off.
The save was Díaz’s 10th in as many chances this season, and lately they have been getting easier after a choppy start to the season.
His perfect inning on this day was his third in his last four appearances, a stretch in which he hasn’t allowed a hit.
“I have got really good stuff,” Díaz said. “I have been feeling great. Just go after them and try to make them chase and that is what I did today.”
After Francisco Lindor’s sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth gave the Mets a 3-2 lead, Díaz entered and struck out Austin Wells on a full-count slider.
Ben Rice followed with a line out to third base, leaving Díaz to face Judge with the bases empty.
“Try to make him chase,” Díaz said. “He’s got a really good approach. I was just trying to throw my best pitch.”
Díaz’s velocity was lagging somewhat earlier in the season, but he said a mechanical adjustment in late April has helped him see improvement on that front.
“I didn’t start the way I wanted to,” Díaz said. “But right now I think I am throwing the best I have since 2022, so I am really happy.”
Díaz’s outing was just one component of the Mets’ strong bullpen performance.
Huascar Brazobán fired 1 ²/₃ scoreless innings before Reed Garrett worked a scoreless eighth, albeit with three walks and a hit allowed.
But Garrett got Paul Goldschmidt to hit into a double play after Cody Bellinger walked leading off, allowing him to navigate the threat.
However, it was Díaz’s work, especially facing Judge, that received the most raves.
Judge finished the day 0-for-5 but is still batting .402 with a 1.241 OPS.
“[Díaz] was electric today,” Pete Alonso said. “I had a conversation with him the other day, and in his process, he’s crushing it. And, obviously, it has shown on the field.”
