Edwin Diaz blames frigid temps for ninth inning collapse during Mets loss: Couldnt throw strikes

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.Edwin Díaz just couldn’t get a grip. The Mets closer chalked up his control problems in Wednesday’s ninth inning to the slickness of the baseball on a 44-degree day at Citi Field.

It led to Díaz surrendering three earned runs over two-thirds of an inning in the 5-0 loss to the Marlins. “I was trying to hold [the ball] the hardest that I could, but I couldn’t,” Díaz said.“I couldn’t throw strikes today.” Díaz walked Xavier Edwards to begin the inning before unloading a wild pitch.

Jonah Bride delivered a one-out single for Miami’s third run of the day before Matt Mervis blasted a full-count slider over the right-field fence. After Díaz walked Griffin Conine with two outs, manager Carlos Mendoza removed the Mets closer and used Danny Young to record the final out. “I understood,” Díaz said.“I threw like 30 pitches.

As soon as I saw I didn’t have my best command, I tried to play catch with the catcher, tried to [induce] contact and tried to get outs.” Luis Torrens missed a fifth straight start with a right forearm contusion, giving backup Hayden Senger another game at catcher.The 28-year-old Senger, a career minor leaguer before this season, has left a positive impression on Mendoza. “We knew the defense was going to be there,” Mendoza said.

“But the way [Senger] is handing the pitching staff, leading those guys, calling really good games, making adjustments, meetings with the starters.… We have seen how elite he is, receiving, the blocking and then offensively he’s giving us some real good at-bats.”  Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Please provide a valid email address.

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