A contrite Edwin Diaz earns save for Mets in first game back after suspension

PITTSBURGH — Edwin Diaz apologized to Mets teammates when he realized he would be suspended 10 games for violating MLB’s sticky substance rule.

“I apologized to the guys because I was leaving them for 10 games and it was basically 11 games because that day I didn’t pitch,” Diaz said Saturday. “After that, everyone was with me. They had my back. Everything was good.”

In his return, Diaz fired a scoreless ninth inning — with a hit batter — for the save in the Mets’ 5-2 victory over the Pirates at PNC Park.

Before the game, Diaz maintained his innocence and said there isn’t a reason for him to change his methodology .

The right-hander said he was using a combination of rosin, sweat and dirt when he was ejected for a foreign substance on his right hand on June 23 at Wrigley Field before he even threw a pitch.

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“I will do the same thing — I didn’t have anything that day,” Diaz said. “I will do the same thing. I will rub rosin, dirt and sweat. That is how I have grip on my ball and I will keep doing the same thing.”

How will Diaz ensure it doesn’t happen again?

“I will keep doing the thing I was doing,” he said. “I think I should be fine.”

He was examined by umpires upon entering the game on this day and said it was a standard check.

Rather than appeal the suspension, which would have meant presenting his case to MLB officials, the right-hander chose to accept the punishment and immediately begin his suspension.

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Diaz was asked why, if innocent, he chose to waive his appeal.

“To turn the page,” Diaz said. “I talked to the coaches and if we appealed I might wait three or four more days and then get suspended for 10 games. We wanted to move forward so I started from Day 1.”

Diaz joined Max Scherzer and Drew Smith among Mets pitchers suspended over the last two seasons for violating the rule on foreign substances.

The Mets went 5-5 with Diaz suspended.

Most notably, they struggled to get outs in the late innings last weekend when they lost two games against the Astros.

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And then there was a Wednesday loss against the Nationals in which the bullpen was a factor.

“It was tough because I should have been there,” Diaz said. “I was trying to support them from the outside … every time I came to the game I was rooting for them to get the outs and get the win.”

Diaz faced hitters in live batting practice twice in the last week in an attempt to keep sharp.

After returning last month from a stint on the injured list with a shoulder impingement, the right-hander had four scoreless appearances for the Mets leading into the suspension.

It followed a hellacious May for Diaz in which he blew four of his five save opportunities and said he was dealing with a loss of confidence.

Diaz missed all of last season rehabbing from surgery after tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee during a celebration at the World Baseball Classic.

“Today I did my job,” Diaz said “I just want to keep doing my job and help this team win.”

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