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Diaz ‘lights out’ in first save as Seattle closer
- Updated: August 3, 2016
SEATTLE — When manager Scott Servais called rookie Edwin Diaz into his office Monday night to tell him to be ready to start closing games, Diaz was thrilled.
“I like to pitch in pressure,” Diaz said. “I feel more confident when I’m in a close game. I don’t know why, but I feel really, really good.”
On Tuesday night, he put those feelings to good use. Diaz locked down his first Major League save by striking out the side in the ninth to preserve the Mariners’ 5-4 win over the Red Sox.
“We all know how good he is,” said veteran second baseman Robinson Cano, who hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth. “First time being a closer, it’s tough for everyone his first time, especially at home. And he was the same guy. Lights out.”
Diaz faced four batters in the inning, issuing one walk.
Servais had told Diaz about his new role after Mariners closer Steve Cishek gave up the winning home run in the Mariners’ 2-1 loss to the Red Sox on Monday. The night before, Cishek also blew a save in Chicago by allowing a game-tying three runs in the ninth inning en route to a Mariners’ 7-6, 12-inning …
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