LOS ANGELES — If Edwin Diaz could minimize his pitch count and escape the eighth inning, the plan Saturday was to send him back for the ninth to complete a five-out save.
But the Mets closer walked Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in that eighth inning and by the time he struck out Teoscar Hernandez and Max Muncy to conclude the frame had already thrown 20 pitches.
Enter Reed Garrett for the ninth.
The right-hander struck out the side to earn his first career save in the Mets’ 6-4 victory over the Dodgers.
Garrett, who didn’t even make the team out of spring training, has been among the team’s most valuable relievers if not the best.
Garrett has appeared in six games for the Mets and struck out 21 batters in 10 ²/₃ innings.
He hasn’t yet allowed an earned run.
“I think it’s just attacking the strike zone,” Garrett said. “I am going right after guys and that is the most important thing. If you get ahead in the count it’s a lot easier to pitch.”
It also helps to have a four-seam fastball that averages 95.5 mph, but Garrett threw the pitch only once in this latest appearance, instead relying mostly on his splitter and slider in the 13-pitch outing.
“He did an amazing job and I am really happy for him,” Diaz said. “He came in and struck out the side even though he threw over 30 pitches [Friday]. He came in back-to-back days in a stressful situation and did an amazing job.”
Brett Baty entered the game in the seventh inning as a pinch hitter (and remained at third base) for his first action since departing Tuesday with left hamstring tightness.
Joey Wendle started at third base and went 2-for-2 with a stolen base, a day after committing two errors as Baty’s replacement.
Lefty reliever Kolten Ingram was designated for assignment to create space on the 40-man roster for Tomas Nido, who was selected from Triple-A Syracuse.
The Mets’ six-game winning streak matches their longest of last season. The team began July with six straight wins last year.
