Luis Torrens collected three hits, including a crucial three-run double, and Edwin Diaz returned from his 10-game suspension with a save as the New York Mets beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 on Saturday.
Torrens smashed his double in the third inning, sending the ball deep to left-center field to break a scoreless tie. He also singled twice, helping the Mets end a three-game losing streak.
“Just being able to contribute both at the plate and behind it is something I’m always happy to do for the team,” Torrens said.
Torrens was playing for Triple-A Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before the Mets called him up from the New York Yankees on May 31. As Francisco Alvarez’s backup, he has been hitting .317 in 15 games.
“He’s been fantastic, not only with clutch hitting but also in how he manages our pitchers, boosting their confidence, making adjustments, and working closely with our pitching coaches on game plans,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza praised.
Diaz closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning to secure his eighth save of the season in 12 opportunities. He had been suspended by Major League Baseball following an ejection during a game against the Chicago Cubs on June 23 for using a foreign substance on his pitching hand.
“I was a bit nervous at first, but then I focused on throwing strikes,” Diaz reflected.
Brandon Nimmo also contributed with three hits out of the Mets’ 11 total hits. Jose Butto (3-3) pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win.
Bryan Reynolds managed two hits for the Pirates, who had won two of their previous three games. This followed his impressive performance on Friday when he hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs during a rout.
