Many Mets fans were bracing themselves for a tension-packed ninth inning when the trumpets sounded at Citi Field and Edwin Diaz trotted in from beyond the center field wall.
After all, Diaz has had his share of struggles as a Met, and on Friday night, he was trying to close out the second no-hitter in franchise history, and the first of the 2022 MLB season.
Instead, Diaz picked apart the heart of the Phillies order, striking out Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, and J.T. Realmuto to clinch a historic and unforgettable moment for the Mets and their fans at Citi Field, becoming the fifth of five New York pitchers to not allow a hit in the team’s 3-0 win over Philadelphia.
“It’s amazing. I knew by the seventh inning we had a no-hitter,” Diaz said on the field after the final out. “I didn’t say anything in the bullpen, I just prepared my mind to come in the ninth to save the game. I made sure to make my pitches tonight because it was a special moment for the team.
“It was a little bit of pressure, but I have to control my emotions on the mound, and that’s what I did. I just controlled my emotions and started making pitches. I faced three of the best hitters in the league. I just made my pitches and we got a good result.”
Diaz recorded his three swinging strikeouts with three sliders, helping shut down a Phillies offense that had erupted for 32 runs in its previous series.
“It was really nasty tonight,” Diaz said of his slider.
Diaz closed it out for Tylor Megill, who started the night with five hitless innings, as the Mets continued their stellar start to the season with more dominant pitching that hasn’t skipped a beat despite injuries to Jacob deGrom and Taijuan Walker.
“I think our pitching coaches do a great job in the meetings on how to attack those hitters,” Diaz said. “I think the credit is for them…we just pay attention in the meetings and go out and pitch.”
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