MIAMI — Edwin Diaz thought he was about to start a game-ending double play.
But after the Mets closer fielded Bryan De La Cruz’s grounder in the ninth inning Monday and turned toward second base, he saw nobody covering the bag.
Diaz redirected and threw to first, but too late.
The Marlins now had the bases loaded — after an earlier single and walk — with one out.
Diaz escaped with only one run scoring and earned the save in the Mets’ 6-4 victory over the Marlins.
“I didn’t feel nerves,” Diaz said. “I was just feeling so good throwing my fastball. I feel like it had a lot of life today so I couldn’t control it. That’s why I think I got in trouble because I couldn’t throw it for a strike.”
With the bases loaded Diaz got Josh Bell to hit a grounder on which Jeff McNeil considered throwing to second to start a potential game-ending double play but instead went the safe route and got the out at first with the run scoring.
Diaz then retired Jake Burger to end the game with runners on second and third.
Diaz went 2-for-2 in saves in the series.
In the Mets’ last trip to South Florida, the right-hander had his biggest meltdown of the season, allowing four runs in the ninth inning on May 18.
The Mets lost the game in 10 innings.
“I did have a bad game early in the season here,” Diaz said. “But I always throw everything away. I just came with that mentality in the second half to get outs and get wins and that is what I am doing now.”
Mark Vientos was absent from the starting lineup a night after he was hit in the helmet with catcher Nick Fortes’ throw while diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt.
Mendoza indicated he wanted Vientos to be evaluated for a day going through pregame drills.
Jose Iglesias (1-for-3, RBI) started at third base in Vientos’ spot.
Mendoza stopped just short of saying Kodai Senga is officially in the rotation, but all signs still point to the right-hander pitching Friday against the Braves at Citi Field for his season debut.
Senga is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday.
“Everything is continuing to move in the right direction so he should be good to go for Friday,” Mendoza said.
Slowly, DJ Stewart (0-for-2, two walks) is showing positive signs for the Mets.
The lefty started in right field on Monday having reached base five times in his previous three games.
Stewart entered play with a .533 OPS since June 1.
“I like where he’s at and feel comfortable with him in there,” Mendoza said.
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