Two mementos symbolize Mets’ first road victory

for Edwin Diaz.

So after Diaz got Jake Fraley to swing through a slider for a strikeout with the tying run at third base, the Mets closer made sure to retrieve the ball and hold on to it.

After missing all of the 2024 season with a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, the save meant a little something more. Diaz said he planned to give the baseball to his kids or put it in a display case somewhere in his home.

“It means a lot,” Diaz said. “That team’s playing really good baseball. I think today was a big win for us. We came from behind, the guys were playing great defense and the bullpen did a great job. I came out in the ninth with a two-run lead and it was enough to get the ‘W.’”

It wasn’t the prettiest effort from Diaz, who led off the ninth inning of a 3-1 game with a fielding error on a ball that skipped off the heel of his glove. Then, he walked Spencer Steer on six pitches.

Francisco Lindor could only register one out at first on a bouncing ball up the middle, and Jeimer Candelorio got the Reds within one run on a sacrifice fly. The tying run moved 90 feet away on a wild pitch before Diaz shut the door.

“That’s good because my first couple of outings there was nobody on base and today it was a tough situation and I controlled my emotions really good,” Diaz said. “I think I did a great job, made my pitches when I had to make them.”

It was also the first time that Diaz had pitched on back-to-back days in the regular season since Sept. 27-28, 2022.

It’s an eventful weekend for Diaz, with his brother, Alexis, on the other side as the Reds closer. Diaz said that he and his brother made a dinner bet before the season about who would have more saves this season. The brothers’ parents were in attendance Friday.