Callaway commends Diaz on his relief effort

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — This was far removed from a save situation for Edwin Diaz.

Mickey Callaway was trying to save the Mets from an embarrassing loss and was trying to keep the game from getting completely out of hand when he brought in Diaz, who started the season as the Mets’ closer after coming over in the big trade from Seattle, in the eighth inning Friday night.

Brad Brach loaded the bases with no outs and Callaway summoned Diaz from the bullpen to try to keep the deficit at 2-1. Diaz walked the first batter he faced, Brett Phillips, to allow a run and then surrendered a single to Bubba Starling — who had been dominated by Noah Syndergaard all night — for another run.

Then it really got strange. Lefty Ryan O’Hearn drove a hanging slider down the rightfield line for what was originally ruled a grand slam by first base umpire John Libka — but the ump blew the call. The call was reversed on replay review and Diaz wound up striking out O’Hearn. Diaz escaped further trouble by getting a double-play grounder as the Royals went on to beat the Mets, 4-1, at Kauffman Stadium.

“Brach was struggling and we had Edwin, [Jeurys] Familia and [Paul] Sewald left, and I felt like Diaz could come in and get a big strikeout and you know what, he did a pretty good job,’’ Callaway said. “When you bring somebody in bases loaded, nobody out, if they get out of it with one they’ve done an outstanding job, if they get out of it with two, they’ve done a great job.’’

It was an eyelash from another four runs, don’t forget.

“He got out of it with two runs and gave us a chance to tie it in the ninth,’’ Callaway said. “But it was really the availability of those three guys and I felt Edwin was the best matchup there.’’

Asked if that was a position in which to put a pitcher who is going through struggles (Diaz’s ERA is sitting at 5.44 and he has tied a career-high with five blown saves), Callaway said: “I had to weigh the struggles of Familia as well. And Paul Sewald just got on a plane and got here today so that would be a tough position for any of them. He did a very good job getting out of there with two runs.’’