Edwin Diaz served up another home run — and another low-ball offer Brodie Van Wagenen’s way.
Pitching for the first time since being struck in his left big toe by a Manny Machado line drive Thursday afternoon, Diaz extended his season-long struggles Sunday by surrendering a two-run homer and endangering a once seemingly insurmountable Mets lead, before recording two outs to collect his 23rd save in an 8-7 win over the Pirates at Citi Field.
On Friday, Mickey Callaway opted to rest his closer, allowing Seth Lugo to pick up his first save of the season. On Saturday, Diaz warmed up in the bullpen, only to watch Steven Matz throw his first complete game. On Sunday, the trade candidate expected another day off.
With the Mets leading 8-3 entering the ninth inning, Callaway called on Tyler Bashlor to end a game which had never been competitive. But a leadoff walk to Colin Moran, two-run homer by Brian Reynolds and single by Starling Marte brought Diaz through the right-center field gate, having thrown six scoreless innings in his previous seven appearances.
Then, the team’s prized offseason acquisition delivered another reminder of how far his stock has fallen. After taking the mound to applause, Diaz heard familiar boos when his second pitch — a slider — to Jose Osuna was crushed to left for a two-run homer.
Following Osuna’s blast, Diaz recovered to complete the Mets sweep, getting Melky Cabrera to pop out in foul territory, and Adam Frazier to ground out.
Diaz, who posted a 1.96 ERA and 0.79 WHIP, while recording a major league-high 57 saves in Seattle last year, now holds a 4.95 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. Last year, the 25-year-old allowed five home runs. In 39 fewer appearances this season, he’s already allowed eight.
“I’m hoping this is just one outing, one pitch,” Callaway said. “I don’t really put too much stock into one pitch. If he does it consistently, then you start to worry about it but anybody can hit a home run on one pitch at any moment in the big leagues, even if you execute it. I’m not too worried about it.”
Then the Mets manager is the exception.
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