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Edwin Diaz is such a dominant, lights-out closer right now that when he enters the game in the ninth inning, the Mets TV broadcast doesn’t even go to a commercial break. Instead, the camera follows him as he enters the field through the bullpen gate and heads to the pitcher’s mound, the stadium loudspeakers blaring Blasterjaxx & Timmy Trumpet’s “Narco,” the best entrance song in the majors.
Once those trumpets start playing, the crowd is up dancing and clapping. It’s as if the fans are already celebrating the impending victory, which is usually official after a few minutes and, as often as not, with Diaz striking out the side.
That was the case on Sunday at Citi Field. After Jacob deGrom’s triumphant return in his first home start in 13 months, Diaz entered with the Mets leading the Braves 5-2 and struck out the heart of the Atlanta lineup — Dansby Swanson, Matt Olson and Austin Riley — on 14 pitches, the crowd erupting as Riley went down on three pitches, looking at a 101-mph fastball for the final strike.
Yes, it’s fun when you have a great closer, it’s fun when you’re winning, and it’s especially fun if you’re the Mets and you just beat the Braves four out of five in the biggest series of the season so far in the majors. The Mets played most of the first half in the shadow of their New York neighbors, with the Yankees on pace to challenge the single-season record for wins. But with deGrom back and this statement series against the Braves behind them, the Mets proved they are the best team in the NL East — and maybe even the best team in New York.
Indeed, with the Cardinals sweeping a series against the Yankees, the Mets are now 70-39. The Yankees? 70-39.
Just as importantly, this series was a chance for the Mets to prove they won’t collapse like so often in the past. On…
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Source : espn
